The steam_api.dll is a Dynamic Link Library file used by games to interface with the Steam platform. In a legitimate, purchased copy of the game, this file communicates with the Steam client to verify ownership (DRM) and manage achievements or cloud saves.
If you are seeing "steam_api.dll is missing" or "The code execution cannot proceed," here is how to identify and resolve the issue. Why the Error Occurs in Repacks steamapidll for grid autosport repack
In 2022, security researchers found that 1 in 5 "cracked game DLLs" from non-scene sources contained malware that harvested Steam login tokens. The steam_api