Capcom to distribute games via Steam

Capcom will become the first Japanese publisher to distribute its games through Valve Corporation's Steam content delivery network.

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, Onimusha 3, Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition and Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix will all appear on the service soon. "Future PC titles" are also promised.

Capcom's executive vice president, Mark Beaumont, said the company's newfound interest in digital distribution was a natural off-shoot of its increasing thirst for PC market-share.

"Steam is the right place for us to go with our titles. Valve has created a huge installed base of gamers who naturally fit with the profiles of the titles that Capcom develops," he added.

The first Capcom game on the service will be Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition, which is set to arrive "later this week", to be followed "in the next few weeks" by Onimusha 3.

Then Lost Planet: Extreme Condition will be introduced on June 26, while Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix - also due out on PlayStation 3 Store and Xbox Live Arcade - will arrive "later this year".

Steam already boasts accounts with a wide range of Western firms including Activision, Eidos, PopCap and Empire Interactive, and of course uses it to push its own game series, including Half-Life.