Valve updates conditions for submitting game builds on Steam amidst rise in submissions and long review wait times 

Following a significant increase in Steam store page and game build submissions in recent months, Valve announced on November 4 that it is introducing updates to the platform’s pre-release review procedures. These changes are intended to help more developers pass the build review process on the first try, as well as cut down on re-reviews caused by basic functional issues.  

Several new requirements have already been implemented in Steam’s current release checklist. Notably,  developers need to play the latest version of their game through Steam for at least 5 minutes to confirm that it runs smoothly. Common redistributables and Steam achievements must be confirmed, and Steam Cloud-enabled titles require a save file to be written into the cloud by a member of the partner group.

Screenshots can now be categorized across different groups like “cinematics” and “concept art,” and developers are required to submit at least five screenshots belonging to the “gameplay” category. For a smoother review process, a reminder display has been added to check if features that were listed as supported are included in the game build.   The full list of changes can be found on the official Steamworks Development announcement. 

According to Valve, the target time for reviewing a Steam game build is typically 3-5 days. However, several issues (predominantly caused by re-reviews) have caused delays of up to 12 business days. The new checklist requirements are intended to prevent developers from submitting builds that don’t meet basic criteria and therefore require additional rounds of reviewing.  

Further improvements to Steam’s build review process are being planned. Additionally, Valve will continue adding information about its pre-release checklists to its documentation so developers can easily check what they have to look out for when submitting their game builds. 

Related: Indie developer says Steam helped fix their game in time for Next Fest instead of rejecting last-minute unbootable build