Culture news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Steam’s growing review queue pushes indie games past launch dates
Indie developers say lengthy Steam approval waits have forced some to miss planned launch dates, raising concerns about how reliably smaller studios can schedule releases. Developers suspect a crowded review queue may be contributing, though Valve has not confirmed the cause.
Studio Daimon submitted its game Food Devils on 12 October for an intended early access launch, but it was still awaiting approval on the planned release day. Publisher 2 Left Thumbs said Wheel Make It launched nearly two weeks late after build reviews; one review reportedly failed over a menu option that could not be used with a controller. Valve says store page reviews typically take three to five business days and advises submitting at least seven business days ahead. October’s Steam Next Fest featured 7,240 games, 65.2 per cent more than June’s event.
In short
- Steam approval delays have pushed indie game launches past schedule.
- Food Devils was still awaiting approval on its planned launch day.
- October’s Steam Next Fest featured 7,240 games.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Unpredictable approval delays can seriously disrupt small studios, which have less room to absorb missed launch dates and may depend on timing for marketing, festival exposure and revenue. Developers can reasonably ask Valve for clearer timelines and more reliable reviews, particularly when a rejection concerns a minor or hard-to-reproduce issue; the large number of games in October’s festival may add pressure to the process.
The case against
Valve’s stated guidance is to submit store pages at least seven business days in advance, and reviews typically take three to five business days, so developers retain some ability to plan around review time. A large festival may bring a temporary surge in submissions, while build checks—including controller accessibility and functionality—can be important to players; without confirmation from Valve, the queue’s growth cannot be established as the cause of these delays.
Explained simply
Steam is a digital shop where people buy and play computer games. Before a game can be sold there, its developer submits it to Valve, the company that owns Steam, for checks; developers also arrange a store page and choose a release date.
Independent studios often have fewer staff and less room to absorb delays than larger publishers. Steam’s review process is one part of planning a launch, alongside finishing the game and preparing its listing. A missed date can affect promotion and players’ expectations.
Valve says store page reviews usually take three to five business days and recommends submitting at least seven business days before release. Steam also hosts events such as Next Fest, where many games are showcased, making the platform an important route for smaller studios to reach players.
Culture Entertainment Food Gaming Software Technology
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Verge as “Indie games are missing launch dates because Steam is backed up”.