'This Should Not Be Possible': Developer Calls for Steam Refund Policy to Change, After Fans Complete Bitesize Game in Under 2 Hours, Leave Great Reviews
An indie game developer is petitioning for Steam policy changes after players exploited a refund loophole by completing short games in under two hours.
Quick answers
Why is the developer calling for policy changes?
The developer cites a loophole where players finish games in under two hours and receive refunds while still providing positive feedback.
How many refunds has the developer reported?
The developer has reported 55,000 refunds.
What is the specific issue with the current Steam policy?
The policy allows refunds for games played for less than two hours, which users are applying to short, high-quality games.
The brief
A developer is seeking revisions to Steam’s refund policy. The request follows instances where players have successfully completed games in under two hours, allowing them to qualify for a full refund while leaving positive reviews.
Coverage from IGN, Kotaku, Mein-MMO, and IGN Nordic reports that the current refund system is being utilized as a loophole. Reports indicate the developer has experienced 55,000 refunds as a result of this practice.
Future developments depend on whether Steam adjusts its criteria for refund eligibility. It remains to be seen if other developers will seek similar policy shifts for short-form titles.
Synthesized by Newsylist from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 45d ago.
Coverage (8)
- Paddle Paddle Paddle Has Good Reviews and Massive Refunds games.gg · 45d ago
- An indie game was refunded 55,000 times Windows Central · 45d ago
- Dev tells Valve to fix Steam's exploitable 2-hour refund policy as "over 55,000" players refund his short g... Yahoo Tech · 45d ago
- Indie dev asks Steam to review return policy after players beat the game and get refunds Niche Gamer · 45d ago
- Paddle Paddle Paddle IGN Nordic · 45d ago
- Indie Dev Says Game Refunded 55,000 Times Via Steam Loophole Kotaku · 45d ago
- Players love a co-op hit on Steam, but a loophole is causing the developer to miss out on a fortune Mein-MMO · 45d ago
- 'This Should Not Be Possible': Developer Calls for Steam Refund Policy to Change, After Fans Complete Bitesize Game in Under 2 Hours, Leave Great Reviews IGN · 45d ago broke it first
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