Valve changes Steam release checks as approval delays disrupt launches
Reviews are taking up to 12 business days, while Valve's target is three to five days.
Valve has introduced new requirements for games launching on Steam to help clear an approval backlog that has caused some indie developers to miss release dates by weeks. The company said reducing the need to review builds again is one aim of the changes.
The rules require developers to spend a minimum of five minutes testing their games within Steam. Valve said it has received builds that were never played through the platform. Testing only by opening an executable directly can leave installation and gameplay problems undetected, the company said.
Other checks cover common redistributables such as DirectX and Visual C++, achievement readiness and the configuration of Steam Cloud save paths. Developers also need to sort screenshots into categories covering cinematics, concept art, menus and gameplay.
Valve acknowledged that developers have faced stress while waiting longer than expected for build reviews. It said further changes to the review process are coming, describing the new requirements as an initial step.
