Valve is updating its Steam release rules to address a significant backlog of indie game approvals caused by a recent surge in AI-generated titles. The company announced the changes after developers reported missing launch dates by several weeks due to unexpected delays in the review process.
Review Times and New Requirements
The company stated that its goal for new title reviews is three to five days. However, the current wait time has stretched to up to 12 business days. Valve noted that these extended periods are often caused by the need for re-reviews when builds fail initial checks.
In a community post, Valve acknowledged the stress this has caused. “We’ve heard from a lot of developers and know how stressful it’s been having to wait for review build updates longer than expected,” the company wrote. The new rules are designed to prevent these re-reviews by ensuring builds meet basic standards before they reach the review queue.
Under the updated guidelines, developers must now run their games through the Steam client for at least five minutes. This step ensures the game functions correctly within the platform environment. Valve explained that testing an executable directly does not guarantee it will work for users installing and playing via Steam.
Additional requirements include confirming the installation of common redistributables like DirectX and Visual C++. Developers must also verify that Steam achievements are ready, ensure Steam Cloud save paths are configured correctly, and categorize screenshots as gameplay, menus, concept art, or cinematics.
Impact of AI-Generated Content
The delays have coincided with a flood of AI-assisted games entering the store. Developer 2 Left Thumbs noted on X that the spike in review times appeared around September and October, attributing it to “the overwhelming amount of slop now flooding Steam.”
Data supports this observation. Reddit user u/ploz found that 49.9 percent of games released on Steam in October disclosed AI-generated content. This is a sharp increase from June, when nearly 20 percent of Next Fest game demos included AI disclosures.
The backlog has had tangible consequences for developers. structmira, a developer for the game Cubic Earth, told PC Gamer that their trailer garnered over 60,000 views and 6,000 wishlists. However, the delay has led to a rapid influx of player complaints on the Steam Community page, causing the project to lose momentum.
Valve indicated that more improvements to the build review process are coming. The company described the initial changes as a starting point to help unclog the system and support indie developers navigating the current market conditions.
Source: Engadget
