Halloween DealsAmazon USHalloween week deals: useful picks before month-endAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan NowHalloween DealsAmazon USOctober picks are moving - compare before checkoutAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Blog › API migration

How to Migrate from Steam’s Legacy Review Endpoint to GetAppReviews

By Freedom251 Team · · 3 min read

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Replace Steam’s deprecated /appreviews URL with https://api.steampowered.com/IUserReviewsService/GetAppReviews/v1/. The replacement works without an API key for public reviews, but it changes how you send parameters, page through results and parse responses. The migration is safest when you update all three—not just the URL.

What changes in the migration?

Steam identifies IUserReviewsService/GetAppReviews as the replacement for the deprecated store.steampowered.com/appreviews/<appid>?json=1 endpoint. The new method is a Web API service interface: put its parameters in input_json, rather than carrying over the old query-string construction unchanged. See Steam’s IUserReviewsService reference and its legacy User Reviews documentation.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

How do I migrate from Steam’s legacy review endpoint to the keyless endpoint?

  1. Change the URL. Call https://api.steampowered.com/IUserReviewsService/GetAppReviews/v1/. Supply the required appid for the application whose reviews you want.
  2. Move method parameters into input_json. Construct the service request using the parameter names and values in Steam’s method reference. Do not assume that the legacy endpoint’s query parameters map one-for-one.
  3. Map language, filter and type values. Replace legacy language with languages, which accepts a list of API language codes. An empty list requests English; all requests every language. Map legacy filter strings such as all, recent and updated to the replacement method’s documented Helpful, Recent and Updated filter enum values. Map review and purchase types to their corresponding enums.
  4. Choose the filter for your use case. Helpful is the default and is designed to find reviews: it widens day_range until it finds results. Recent or Updated is the better choice when you need to walk review pages until the collection is exhausted.
  5. Preserve cursor pagination. Omit cursor or start with *, then pass the cursor returned in each response to the next request. URL-encode cursor values when needed. For a complete walk, continue with Recent or Updated until the method returns an empty review list.
  6. Update response handling. The replacement response has no success field. Check the HTTP status, and revise code that assumes author.num_games_owned is present or that weighted_vote_score is a string. Account for the new refunded field and the total_matching and day_range_used values.
  7. Decide whether to include a key. Public review requests can be anonymous; a publisher key is optional. If you use one associated with the app, send it only from a secure server over HTTPS—never embed it in a game client.

How filter choice affects results and pagination

Helpful: ranked discovery, not an exhaustive walk

Helpful is the default filter. Its day_range defaults to 30 days, can be as high as 365, and accepts 0 for no limit. Helpful widens that range until it finds reviews, so an empty page is not the appropriate completion signal for paging through the entire collection.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Recent or Updated: cursor walks

Use Recent or Updated when your process needs to reach an empty page while following cursors. Steam documents the empty-review-list stopping behavior for these filters. Treat the returned cursor as part of the pagination state; do not repeatedly request only the first page.

#1 Best Overall
VALVE Steam Deck OLED 512GB SSD + 16GB RAM (International Version) - 7.4"" inch, 90Hz, 1280 x 800px, SteamOS 3.0, Handheld Gaming Console, Black
  • International (UK) Version
  • 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
  • SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
  • 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
  • 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32

Other replacement options and defaults

GetAppReviews adds Funny sorting and filters for date range, playtime, Steam Deck and hardware. The documented defaults are Steam purchases only for purchase_type and all review types for review_type. Check these defaults against the behavior your integration expects before relying on them.

What response and summary assumptions need updating?

Replace legacy success-field logic with HTTP status handling, including a path for non-success responses. Review the new response schema rather than deserializing it as the old one: weighted_vote_score is numeric rather than a string, author.num_games_owned is removed, and refunded is added. The new response also includes total_matching and day_range_used.

Do not assume that query_summary totals and scores appear on every page. Steam documents them only on the first page and only when review_type is All.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Does the keyless endpoint need an API key?

No. Steam says the method does not require a key, and anonymous responses may be cached for up to 10 minutes. Anonymous requests share a lower rate limit; Steam documents HTTP 429 as a possible response when a request is rate-limited, but the cited documentation does not give a fixed anonymous quota. A publisher key associated with the app provides a higher rate limit. See Steam’s Web API key authentication guidance for key handling.

Rank #3
Valve Steam Deck OLED 2TB Handheld Gaming Console, 7.4" HDR 90Hz Display, Wi-Fi 6E, PC Gaming, with 7-in-1 Kit: Carrying Case, Hub, Controller, 2*Protective Cases, Screen Protector, 32GB USB
  • 【Upgraded】We sells product with professionally upgraded to 2TB SSD. Original Seal is opened for upgrade ONLY.
  • 【Stunning 7.4" HDR OLED & 90Hz Motion】 Experience striking contrast and brilliant clarity with the all-new 7.4-inch HDR OLED display. Designed from the ground up for gaming, it features a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth motion and pure blacks. This handheld is capable of delivering an immersive visual experience, ensuring your Steam library looks better than ever with vibrant colors and amazing motion rendition.
  • 【30-50% More Battery & Efficient Performance】 Play your favorites longer with up to 50% more battery life. By fitting a larger battery and a power-efficient OLED panel, this device provides extended gameplay sessions. It’s the perfect travel companion for long flights or commutes. The updated AMD APU ensures high-speed performance for AAA titles while maintaining incredible energy efficiency.
  • 【3X Faster Downloads with Wi-Fi 6E】 Never wait for a game again. Equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, this Steam Deck OLED offers increased bandwidth and lower latency, delivering downloads up to 3 times faster than previous models. This ensures stable online play and rapid updates, making it the most reliable wireless gaming handheld for modern high-speed home networks.
  • 【Responsive Touch & Enhanced Connectivity】 Enjoy a vastly improved touchscreen with higher fidelity and faster haptics. We’ve added a dedicated Bluetooth antenna to improve connections for multiple controllers. Whether using the built-in trackpads or the included external controller, this allows for precision play in everything from FPS to complex strategy games.

Choose based on where and how you run the integration: anonymous requests avoid managing a credential, while a key is an option when the higher rate limit is needed. Keep any publisher key on a secure server and use HTTPS; distributing it with a client would expose the credential.

Best Value
Valve Steam Deck 1TB Upgraded Handheld Gaming Console with Carring case, 1280 x 800 OLED Display Silicone Soft Cover Protector & Joystic Cap & Tempered Glass Film Bundle
  • Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
  • Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
  • Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
  • Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
  • The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Rank #4
Steam Deck Oled 512 GB Handheld Gaming Console with 1280x800 HDR OLED display, Up to 90Hz Refresh Rate, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, With Carrying Case & 45W Power Supply
  • 512 GB NVMe SSD: Fast storage for quicker game load times and space for larger game libraries.
  • OLED Display: 1200x800 resolution with deep contrasts and vibrant colors for a captivating visual experience.
  • Custom AMD APU: Power-efficient Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU for desktop-level gaming performance.
  • Expandable Storage: Add more space with a microSD card slot, ensuring you can bring even more games with you.
  • Versatile Controls: With built-in thumbsticks, trackpads, and touchscreen controls, you have full control over your gaming experience.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

API migrationgame developmentSteamSteamworksWeb API

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.