Valve made a massive shakeup to Steam's tagging system yesterday, performing a sweeping "spring clean" that added 17 new tags while removing 28 old ones. While the update finally provided clarity for the "Vampire Survivors-like" genre, the most controversial change was the removal of the RPGMaker tag.
For years, players have used this tag to categorize games made with RPG Maker development tools—or simply games that shared a specific aesthetic "vibe." However, as the platform evolves, the removal of this label is sparking an unexpected reaction from the very people who build these titles.
The problem with the RPGMaker tag
While some developers on Bluesky expressed frustration over the change, much of the development community seems surprisingly sanguine about the decision. The core issue stems from how Steam's tagging system functions as both a discovery tool and an exclusionary filter.
Many players used the tag to avoid what they perceived as "low-effort" content. Because the tag was often applied based on visual style rather than actual engine usage, it created several unintended consequences:
- Hidden Gems: High-quality indie titles were frequently buried by users who blacklisted the tag.
- Misidentification: Games not actually built in RPG Maker were caught in the crossfire due to player tagging habits.
- The "Slop" Factor: A high volume of shovelware led to a negative preconception surrounding anything labeled with the tag.
Why developers are embracing the change
Despite the loss of a specific search term, many creators believe the removal of the RPGMaker tag will actually help their games reach wider audiences. By removing the label, developers are hoping to break through the stigma that has persisted since the Steam Greenlight era.
"To be honest I think [the RPGMaker tag] was probably doing more harm than good," one RPG Maker MZ developer noted on Reddit. They suggested that players who previously avoided the genre due to negative preconceptions might now discover great games if they can no longer filter them out instantly.
Other developers echoed this sentiment, noting that the tag helped cultivate a "negative perception" of the engine. While some players are understandably annoyed—pointing out that Steam added niche tags for things like capybaras while removing functional genre descriptors—the consensus among creators is clear: it is a worthwhile tradeoff to ensure their work isn't automatically hidden from potential fans.
