TECH NEWS – Gabe Newell’s company wants to prevent gamers from spending money on post-release content on Steam…
Like any company, Valve has to be very careful about what appears on its platform. This has brought it into conflict with some human rights groups, but it has also helped improve the user experience for players. One such update to the system debuted on Steam today: developers must “communicate and clarify” all downloadable content!
As Eurogamer reported, the new Steam Season Pass policy requires that if developers offer a season pass on Steam, they must provide a full list of the DLC included, as well as a basic description of the content and expected release dates. According to Valve, this means that developers must commit to specific release dates for each DLC that are convenient for customers. This is to ensure that players don’t pay for content that may not be delivered as promised or in its entirety.
Valve’s move to protect Steam players
They also stipulate that the season pass must include at least one DLC available at the time of purchase. So it can’t just be a promise, but must be sold with playable content. However, season passes that come with pre-orders of deluxe editions are exempt from this rule, as they are considered add-ons for those versions. Valve also acknowledges that development delays are common. That’s why it allows developers to reschedule the release of a DLC once, as long as the new date is within three months of the originally promised date.
In the event that a season pass DLC is cancelled, Valve says that buyers should be offered a refund for the value of the undelivered content.
The company also emphasizes that it is the developers’ responsibility to ensure that DLCs meet the descriptions and release dates offered to users. If they don’t, Valve may take action, such as removing the Season Pass from sale or refunding customers’ money.
The new update aims to strengthen players’ trust in Steam Season Passes by providing greater transparency and accountability from developers. At a time when microtransactions and post-release content are a vital part of many games, Valve is making sure that players get what they were promised, or get their money back if that doesn’t happen.
Source: Eurogamer
