Valve Issues Strict New Guidelines on Season Passes and DLC

Valve is making significant changes to its policy on season passes sold on Steam, introducing new rules for developers that require greater clarity regarding the contents and timelines associated with these passes. Developers must now provide clear information about what players can expect in terms of downloadable content (DLC), and if any plans change, they must also offer refunds.

“If you’re not prepared to communicate precisely about the content in each DLC and the release timing for each, you shouldn’t offer a Season Pass on Steam,” Valve stated in their guidelines.

SteamDB creator Pavel Djundik first highlighted these changes and shared them on Bluesky recently, bringing attention to the updated documentation that Valve has released.

For those unfamiliar, season passes are designed to provide players access to future DLC and extra features for their favorite titles, often packaged with deluxe or more expensive editions of games. Valve emphasizes that a developer offering a season pass is essentially making a promise for future content delivery to players.

However, purchasing a season pass can be risky. If the content changes or is canceled post-purchase, players often find themselves in a complicated situation. While refunds are an option, the ease of obtaining one can vary depending on the platform and the involvement of the developer or publisher.

Under the new guidelines, developers are expected to advertise their season passes with an emphasis on transparency. They must list everything included in the pass, not just state that future DLC is on the way, but specify what it is and provide relevant information. While extensive detail isn’t required, the essential information and deliverables must be clear. Additionally, developers are expected to mention estimated release dates or windows, and at least one piece of DLC must be available at the time the season pass is offered for sale.

If any DLC included in the season pass is canceled, customers will receive a refund based on the perceived value of that content. Valve will permit a developer to delay a season pass’s launch date only once, and the delay can last no more than three months. This could pose challenges for larger titles that may experience extended delays, although Valve is open to discussing potential exceptions.

This policy change does not constitute an outright prohibition on season passes. Rather, Valve is working to ensure that developers are held accountable should any issues arise and that they provide clarity to players. Developers could face penalties that include refunds to customers and potentially removing the season pass from availability entirely.

This move is part of a broader trend towards pro-consumer policies by Valve. Just last month, they updated their Steam Subscriber Agreement to lift the mandatory arbitration clause for users pursuing legal action against the company. They’ve also made adjustments to user reviews to prioritize helpful content over memes and simplified game sharing among users.

Nevertheless, Valve has faced criticism regarding the prevalence of hate speech and extremist content on its platform, leading a U.S. senator to send a letter urging the company to enhance community moderation and establish clearer guidelines.