The popular geography-based puzzle game GeoGuessr is expanding its horizons beyond browsers and mobile devices. After years of challenging players to identify global locations through Google Street View, the game is finally making its way to Steam this April, with a particular focus on competitive gameplay.
Steam Edition Announcement
GeoGuessr's developers recently revealed that the game will be available on Steam starting in April 2025. The announcement came via a Steam news post on March 25, alongside an official Steam listing that players can already wishlist. The Steam edition will primarily focus on the competitive Duels mode, where players can test their geography knowledge against others in head-to-head matches. This move represents a significant step for the browser-based game that gained popularity through Twitch streamers and content creators.
Competitive Features and Ranking System
The Steam version will feature both ranked Solo Duels and unranked Team Duels. In the ranked mode, players will begin in an amateur division with the opportunity to climb through the ranks to reach the champion division. As players progress, they'll unlock new features and game modes, including challenging variants like No Move and NMPZ (No Moving, Panning, or Zooming). This competitive structure formalizes GeoGuessr's growing esports presence, which has already seen two World Cup tournaments with substantial prize pools—the winner of last year's competition took home USD $26,250.
Free vs. Paid Access
One of the most controversial aspects of GeoGuessr's browser version has been its subscription model, which charges users USD $3.99 / GBP £3.99 monthly for full access. The free browser version limits players to just three locations per day. While the Steam edition will offer some free content—amateur solo duels and unranked team duels will be playable without charge—complete access to solo duels will require purchasing a GeoGuessr Steam pass available within the game. Importantly, the Steam and browser editions will be separate entities with individual subscriptions, though they will support crossplay.
GeoGuessr Steam Edition Details:
- Release window: April 2025
- Platform: Steam (Early Access)
- Free features: Amateur solo duels, unranked team duels
- Paid features: Complete solo duels experience (requires "GeoGuessr Steam pass")
- Current browser subscription: USD $3.99 / GBP £3.99 monthly
- Crossplay: Supported between Steam and browser versions
- Development roadmap: New game modes, maps, and competitive features over 6 months
Early Access and Future Development
GeoGuessr's Steam debut will be through Early Access, with developers planning to add new game modes, maps, and competitive features over the next six months. The game will feature various maps assembled from collections of different locations, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences. While there's no specific release date beyond April, the developers have indicated the launch is coming soon.
Cross-Platform Integration
Despite being separate platforms, the Steam and browser editions of GeoGuessr will support crossplay, allowing users on different platforms to compete against each other. This integration ensures that the player community remains unified across platforms, potentially strengthening the competitive scene that has been steadily growing around the game.
Growing Competitive Scene
GeoGuessr's move to Steam appears to be a strategic effort to formalize its status as a competitive game while exposing it to a wider audience. High-level GeoGuessr play has become increasingly popular to watch, with players demonstrating remarkable abilities to identify locations based on minimal visual cues. The Steam platform, with its built-in community features and visibility, could significantly boost GeoGuessr's competitive ecosystem and player base.