Steam's New Submission Rules: What They Mean for Players

Players can expect fewer broken or low-effort games on Steam, as the new rules force developers to at least test their games before submission. Legit developers may also see faster approval times.

Players can expect fewer broken or low-effort games on Steam, as the new rules force developers to at least test their games before submission. Legit developers may also see faster approval times.

Key points - Valve updated Steam's pre-release review process to require developers to run their games for at least five minutes. - Developers must confirm common redistributables, prepare achievements, and ensure Steam Cloud works if supported. - The changes aim to help games pass review quickly the first time and reduce re-reviews for basic issues. - Valve noted a significant increase in submissions for store page and build review in recent months. - The update follows concerns about AI-generated clones and 'slop' flooding the storefront.

Timeline - Recent months: Valve sees a significant increase in submissions for store page and build review. - Past several weeks: Valve works to scale its review process to match the increased volume. - Now: Valve ships initial improvements to the pre-release review process.

FAQ

Q: What are the new requirements for submitting a game to Steam? A: Developers must run their game through Steam for at least five minutes, confirm common redistributables, prepare achievements, and ensure Steam Cloud works if supported.

Q: Will these changes slow down the approval process? A: No, Valve says the changes are designed to help games pass review quickly the first time, speeding up the process overall.

Q: Is Valve specifically targeting AI-generated games? A: Valve doesn't mention AI in its update, but the changes come amid concerns about AI clones and 'slop' flooding the store.