Valve Tightens Steam Release Checklist As Reviews Stretch To 12 Days
Valve is adding pre-release checks for Steam developers as a rise in submissions and repeat reviews delays approvals and disrupts some indie launch plans.
Valve has changed the checklist developers must complete before releasing games on Steam, aiming to reduce repeat reviews as submissions rise. Reviews that typically take three to five days can now take up to 12 business days, according to The Verge and Engadget. Some indie developers have missed planned launch dates while waiting for approval.
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Why Valve is changing the process
Valve said it has seen a significant increase in submissions for store and page review in recent months, The Verge reported. The company attributed much of the delay to games needing to be reviewed again after an initial check. Its new requirements are intended to catch basic functional problems before developers submit builds, rather than eliminate the review process.
The delays have created uncertainty for developers planning releases. Engadget reported that some indie games have missed their launch dates by weeks. Both outlets said Valve expects to make further improvements to its build review process, but neither reported a timeline for those changes or said when review times might return to normal.
What developers must check before submission
Under the updated checklist, developers must run their game through Steam for at least five minutes. Valve said reviewers sometimes receive builds that have never been played through Steam, even if the game works when its executable is launched directly. That can leave problems affecting players who install and run it through the platform undiscovered until review.
Developers must also confirm that achievements are ready and identify common software components Steam may need to install, such as DirectX or Visual C++, according to both reports. Engadget added that the checklist covers Steam Cloud save paths and requires screenshots to be categorized as gameplay, menus, concept art or cinematics.
AI claims and the effect on indie launches
Engadget connected the submission surge to an influx of games made with AI. It cited a Reddit user's finding that 49.9 percent of games released on Steam in October disclosed AI-generated content. The Verge reported Valve's explanation of the backlog without identifying AI as a cause. Neither report established how many of the delayed reviews involved AI-generated games.
For developers caught in the backlog, a missed release date can disrupt plans already in motion. Engadget cited Cubic Earth developer structmira, who told PC Gamer that the game's trailer had drawn more than 60,000 YouTube views and over 6,000 wishlists before its Steam Community page began filling with player complaints. Valve's checklist changes may reduce avoidable repeat reviews, but the reports do not establish whether they will clear the current delays.
Sources
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