MTS has raised the conversion commission for topping up a Steam wallet, setting it at 10 percent. This change is reported by the DTF portal with references to user messages.
Earlier the fee did not exceed 8 percent, but now it climbs to 10 percent. Practically speaking, if a user adds 350 rubles to a Steam wallet, 317 rubles will appear on the account. An extra 50 rubles is charged by the MTS service as the new commission. Official confirmation from MTS representatives was issued about the change in the fee.
Some online commentators connect this move with the end of QIWI as a payment option. QIWI used to be among the main methods to fund Steam wallets for Russian players. There is no official statement that confirms this link.
In February 2024, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation revoked the license of QIWI Bank. As a result, users could not top up gaming wallets on Steam through that service to buy more games. This followed Steam’s 2022 decision to stop accepting Russian bank cards and certain payment services for digital purchases.
In Helldivers 2, there was talk about a player acting as the master of the game to steer the galactic conflict. This line serves as a metaphor for how payment changes can steer player behavior and the broader gaming economy. [Citation: DTF portal]