Valve Tightens Steam Game Checks as Reviews Slow

Valve has updated its release checklist for games on Steam as the number of submissions for store and page review has risen. The company said reviews, which typically take three to five days, are now taking as long as 12 business days. The delays have caused some independent developers to miss planned launch dates, in some cases by weeks.

Valve said repeat reviews account for much of the slowdown. Developers must now launch each game using the Steam client and keep it running for a minimum of five minutes, helping catch problems that might not appear when launching a game directly from its executable. The company said it has sometimes received builds that had not been tested through Steam.

The checklist also asks developers to confirm that achievements are ready and that required components such as DirectX or Visual C++ are set up for installation. Developers must check Steam Cloud save locations and classify screenshots by whether they show in-game action, menus, artwork, or cinematic sequences.

Valve said it has heard developers’ concerns about longer-than-expected waits for updated builds and described these measures as an initial step. It said further changes to the build review process are in development. The delays have already disrupted launch plans for some games and, in one developer’s account, led to player complaints and lost promotional momentum.