# Dev defends short games after criticizing Steam for making it easy to refund them: “I will never stretch out a game with more content just to avoid refunds”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/dev-defends-short-games-after-criticizing-steam-for-making-it-easy-to-refund-them-i-will-never-stretch-out-a-game-with-more-content-just-to-avoid-refunds/
- Published: 2026-07-13T21:04:46+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-14T15:14:18+00:00
- Original publisher: GamesRadar+
- Original article: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/dev-defends-short-games-after-criticizing-steam-for-making-it-easy-to-refund-them-i-will-never-stretch-out-a-game-with-more-content-just-to-avoid-refunds/
- Topics: Entertainment, Gaming

## Key points

- Developer defends short games despite Steam's easy refund policy.
- Says they won't pad games with content just to avoid refunds.
- Highlights tension between refund policies and game design choices.

## Summary

A game developer has defended making short games after previously criticising Steam's refund policy for making it too easy for players to request refunds on brief experiences. The developer stated they would never artificially pad out a game with extra content simply to reduce the risk of refunds, arguing that a game's length should be dictated by what serves the experience rather than by platform refund mechanics.

The comments touch on an ongoing tension in the games industry between Steam's consumer-friendly refund system, which allows players to request their money back within a set playtime and time window, and developers who feel pressured to inflate game length to discourage refunds. The developer's stance suggests a preference for prioritising creative integrity and pacing over defensive design choices aimed at reducing refund rates.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.