Valve is changing the checks developers must complete before submitting a game for release on Steam, as approval times have stretched amid a surge in new titles. The company says its review process, which aims to take three to five days, is currently taking as long as 12 business days. Some indie developers have consequently missed launch dates by weeks.
The new requirements are intended in part to prevent re-reviews that can add to delays. Developers must run their games through Steam for at least five minutes, helping identify problems that might not appear when launching a game directly from its executable. Valve says a title can work outside Steam while still missing basic steps needed for users to install and play it through the platform.
Developers must also verify that common redistributables, including DirectX and Visual C++, are in place; check that achievements are ready and Steam Cloud save paths are configured correctly; and label screenshots as gameplay, menus, concept art or cinematics. Valve said it plans further improvements to build reviews and acknowledged that longer-than-expected waits have been stressful for developers.
The company did not directly link the delays to AI-made games. However, developers and users have pointed to a rise in titles disclosing AI-generated content. Developer 2 Left Thumbs said on X that review times appeared to spike around September and October, possibly in part because of the volume of low-quality games on Steam. A Reddit user, u/ploz, reported that 49.9 percent of games released on Steam in October disclosed AI-generated content; in June, nearly 20 percent of Next Fest demos had disclosed using AI.
The delays have also affected developers’ launch plans and audience momentum. Cubic Earth developer structmira told PC Gamer that its trailer had received more than 60,000 YouTube views and the game had gathered over 6,000 wishlists. The developer said complaints were accumulating on the Steam Community page while the game’s momentum faded.
Sources: Engadget.