Starting September 5th, Valve will be offering non-gaming software on Steam, bringing the digital distribution platform to a completely new level. These applications will work with Steamworks features such as auto-updating, simplified installation, and utilization of the Steam Cloud.
In a press release, Valve's Mark Richardson said "The 40 million gamers frequenting Steam are interested in more than playing games. They have told us they would like to have more of their software on Steam, so this expansion is in response to those customer requests."
When Valve pushed the Steam iOS app to compatible smart phones, the addition of categories such as accounting, animation and modeling, audio production, design and illustration showed the publisher's hand and gave gamers a hint that Steam would be growing in the near future.
Developers of non-gaming software can submit new applications to the Steam Greenlight initiative for consideration. Additional titles will continue to be added after the initial launch as Valve grows their empire ever-larger.