# '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

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-06 14:29 UTC · Category: Technology · Sources: 8 · Current Velocity: 5.66

## Executive Summary
An indie game developer is petitioning for Steam policy changes after players exploited a refund loophole by completing short games in under two hours.

## Intelligence 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.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### 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.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Steam, Players, Indie Dev Says Game Refunded, Times Via Steam Loophole, This Should Not Be Possible Developer Calls for Steam Refund Policy, Change After Fans Complete Bitesize Game, Hours Leave Great Reviews, Paddle Paddle Paddle

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| games.gg | Paddle Paddle Paddle Has Good Reviews and Massive Refunds | 2026-07-06 11:12 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMickFVX3lxTE11QTByTXozUGsyWjJ1VVJNSFJuMlpzZFQyZjBtNy1waTN6eFA4Vi02VGNZV3k4T1kzbXZfUV9kU3Rnei10a09fcDdVTDdQb1lpUDFFcmZKenFWSGd2VEZLM3BlVVp2NVJkVWtPQldxazVCdw?oc=5) |
| Windows Central | An indie game was refunded 55,000 times | 2026-07-06 11:12 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi8gFBVV95cUxQa0RHb1IzSjlIOERkaU1LYU1BNjVvRWk3aW44TzU1MUR5eEY4ZVF0NUYyR3lYYnotSl9fVXdOMXBFZDRVaDZvclRUTWhMYXBoWmJpYzJiRGJrbGpueExyZEdjMmptM0hYUWxQZ1EwZExWZFRzYUtrb2I2a3RUcXljM2NpRDFBM3pHWE9DZW83eGM0UWNBOC1yRXBQbnBsRHhENE5CYjlJRy1MemJxdG0wQnkySmx1a0dqT29uR1k2NDRhdDJhMUZTdDBFM0NUdFUxM0wyYXpUbmdtbWRMeF9mVnBWMGpST1NROUw2VnJoLTFYUQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Tech | Dev tells Valve to fix Steam's exploitable 2-hour refund policy as "over 55,000" players refund his short g... | 2026-07-06 11:12 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxOZzVtMU5fSm9SSnZQdHNkczFZNS1VZG1oUVRNVjc3ejZ2cUgzU2xpcFZiLVg2YTI3WU8xZDZkQWpkRWhzNHNXOXFOcWpSbTJ2SklyUF9tSTNuUEZYUDJvd2FaQWt6dTdwek90YjU1OVBtOWhLQlpFaFNMSV9XYWhVaUlJNmFLVG8?oc=5) |
| Niche Gamer | Indie dev asks Steam to review return policy after players beat the game and get refunds | 2026-07-06 11:12 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxQOG1hY1l4SVg3TjVqTlAwZnJGcEo4VGNVcUdjS1JUcVpkLXFLX2ZhN1QydW84c2dqYkJ4WTN4UXBMZ3hKS3BIYzNGbFJZV0Q3MUR3eHozWHA1azhqSTFucmN6UmlVT3B1LVhOQnM0Y1NKYUlDOHo0dHJVRjBfSGlXRVFsMk51Qm4yUWJoczM2OWh6dGJSVENSS0xxb2tkdTFoejZHVElDa21jSlBYN09ZdU13?oc=5) |
| IGN Nordic | Paddle Paddle Paddle | 2026-07-06 11:12 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiVkFVX3lxTE4zdi0tMFl2MmdrcFFtd3VNaW5sWkdHTVlHd2hhZFJNSHNkSFB5dWJJbUVkMTdKV25uNEpYVE9LRl9YZDEzREhCUFJTdTdqT05NTjBoSDd3?oc=5) |
| Kotaku | Indie Dev Says Game Refunded 55,000 Times Via Steam Loophole | 2026-07-06 11:12 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxNUXBrR0htMmJsNzgtWWQ4ODJKOWw5NzcydlJBOHVWS01sZmYtd3BZQU1zblZFN05HUjhaeUtCUFh0NmxFQ3FxcG1iTWZySXluQWJ3Qk4ySFJnRjM5cGUxTHI4X2pONnZyR2VEbnR1TlluR2JVOGF6cHc1UUhOVnc3VEZkSzJmMFJCeG4wRy0wTnc?oc=5) |
| Mein-MMO | Players love a co-op hit on Steam, but a loophole is causing the developer to miss out on a fortune | 2026-07-06 11:12 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiygFBVV95cUxQQ1E0MmJhQWRJTTlhRk43QUJWQV9xV3ZWWmZ5emZyc20yallJc0h3X2NaSjdMVm1IVm5felhHMWtBcUFfYzRMQmlvU1ZXVC1qUVlIN1Y2cTcwWC1xYW90OUoyTjNyQ3g3ZWhVd0VwR1RXLXBmM2lEdTV5TUItNEpMMzNIOTEwZExhRmlnSGhpd3hmSGxadjVZUllkLVJzNXRoNTF1ZU9xWjRpSTAtdjViMTM3N0M5cWthVVlKbmdYMVFBM0V0bmJQWW1n?oc=5) |
| IGN | '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 | 2026-07-06 11:12 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1AFBVV95cUxQLWgzQ0pKdTA1YmM0SkxkbnVkZVFWVDZ2dHFocGFBTVZJdllxdmtPQjNNTkpROVZnZUtSUE1JSTJHZGVjZHRvYzhLbndoNll2QThqYVIwSlpUbTVxd1lCc1FrTnk4aHN1MS1BbWZIbEJLNTg4eTMyWXJTYTU4dUNucnktcWc1MFI3U1k1V2dQQVVMYWduUG13c2kwNU12SjhEcVh3NnhUX0pPYzRPdkcza1Q4M0o4VF8ydTZ1NTd5SlhlUVZKWkJDWDFCRjRNYVhHc0Y1UQ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://www.newsylist.com/trend/2026-07-06/this-should-not-be-possible-developer-calls-for-steam-refund-policy-to-change*
*Synthesized by Newsylist Open Intelligence Engine under E-E-A-T journalistic standards.*