The creator of Painkiller has revealed that the cult-classic shooter nearly joined Steam’s inaugural lineup. Valve, home to many of the game’s vocal supporters, expressed a keen interest in featuring the project during the platform’s infancy.
In a recent interview, developer Adrian Chmielarz recounted how Gabe Newell personally contacted People Can Fly with a proposal to include Painkiller in Steam’s initial digital catalog.
“Here is a story I don’t think I’ve ever shared before. Digital storefronts are the standard now, but I remember getting an email from Gabe [Newell]. I can’t recall the exact date, but it was prior to Steam’s debut. He wrote: ‘Hi! We are launching a small store and want to host a handful of games. We are big fans of Painkiller. What do you think? Would you like to be part of it?'”
Steam first launched in 2003, though it was initially restricted to managing Valve’s internal updates. The inclusion of third-party titles came later—likely when this communication took place. However, Chmielarz met the idea with a surprising amount of hesitation.
“I remember thinking, ‘Eh, I’m not so sure about this…’ We had a genuine opportunity to be one of the pioneering third-party games on Steam, but since we didn’t actually own the IP rights to Painkiller at the time, it didn’t really matter. My honest reaction was essentially ‘ha-ha.’ I was very skeptical.”
Chmielarz further observed that the rise of digital marketplaces eventually unburdened developers from the logistical nightmares of physical distribution.
“It’s glaringly obvious today, but it certainly wasn’t then. Many creators eventually realized they were no longer shackled to those logistical demands. I can simply focus on the game I want to build. It’s still difficult—you need capital—but if you have the funds or if investors stay out of the creative process, you get projects like Expedition 33.”
Although Painkiller first arrived on PC in 2004, it didn’t make its official debut on the Steam platform until 2007 with the release of the Black Edition.
Source: iXBT.games