Valve has introduced new requirements for developers submitting games to Steam as the platform struggles to manage a growing backlog of release approvals. The changes come amid a surge in new game submissions, including titles that use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate content, which has contributed to longer review times and disrupted release schedules for independent developers.
The company said its updated procedures are intended to reduce delays and make the approval process more efficient. Steam’s review process, which normally takes between three and five days, is currently taking as long as 12 business days in some cases. The extended waiting periods have caused problems for developers who rely on planned launch dates, marketing campaigns and early player interest to support their releases.
Valve acknowledged growing developer frustration in a community announcement. “We’ve heard from a lot of developers and know how stressful it’s been having to wait for review build updates longer than expected,” the company wrote. It also said it planned further improvements, describing the initial changes as an important step toward addressing the problem.
Valve introduces new requirements for Steam game submissions
One of the most important changes requires developers to launch their games through the Steam platform and play them for at least five minutes before submitting a build for review. The requirement is intended to help identify technical problems that might otherwise go unnoticed during approval.
Valve explained that some developers submit games that have only been tested by launching their executable files directly, rather than through Steam. Although a game might appear to work correctly under those circumstances, the experience could differ when customers download and launch it through the platform.
The company said it sometimes receives builds that have never been played through Steam. This can uncover basic compatibility problems during the review process, potentially requiring developers to make corrections and submit another build.
Valve explained the requirement, saying that “even if a game runs smoothly when a dev launches their executable directly, they might have missed basic steps that would impact a user installing and playing via Steam.”
The updated process also places greater responsibility on developers to check several technical and platform-related features before submitting their games. These include confirming that commonly used redistributable software, such as DirectX and Microsoft Visual C++, is properly configured and available.
Developers must also verify that their achievement systems are ready for release and that Steam Cloud saving is configured correctly. Incorrect save-file locations could prevent players from accessing their progress across different devices, creating problems after launch.
Another requirement concerns how promotional screenshots are organised. Developers must now categorise their images by whether they show actual gameplay, menus, concept art, or cinematics. This is intended to clarify the submitted materials and help ensure the information presented to potential players accurately represents the game.
By requiring these checks before submission, Valve hopes to reduce the number of incomplete or incorrectly configured builds entering the review process. Fewer technical issues should also mean fewer requests for developers to make changes and send their games back for another assessment.
AI-generated games add pressure to Steam’s review system
Although Valve has not directly identified AI-generated games as the reason behind the growing backlog, the increase in submissions involving AI tools has attracted attention from developers and members of the gaming community.
Artificial intelligence has made it easier for individuals and small development teams to produce game assets, artwork, dialogue and other content. More recently, AI-assisted coding tools have also allowed people with limited programming experience to create playable projects. While these technologies can make game development more accessible, they have also raised concerns about the growing volume of low-quality releases entering digital marketplaces.
Some developers believe the rise in AI-assisted titles has increased pressure on Steam’s approval system. Independent developer 2 Left Thumbs discussed the issue on X, suggesting that the delays appeared to increase around September and October.
Game developers who plan to release a game on #Steam: the time for a build review displayed is completely outdated! It used to be 3-5 days, but nowadays, it takes around 2 weeks for each round of review. You might need 4-6 weeks if have fixes to make. Plan accordingly! https://t.co/NMoRR9lxHU
— Doot 🪲🪷 Milki Delivery Out Nov 17 🐮🚲 (@doot_dodo) October 24, 2026
The developer pointed to what it described as an overwhelming amount of low-quality content flooding Steam as one possible explanation for the longer wait times. The observation reflects growing concerns that the ease of producing games with AI tools could result in more submissions requiring review, placing additional pressure on the platform’s existing processes.
Data shared by Reddit user u/ploz also highlighted the growing presence of AI-generated material in Steam releases. According to the findings, 49.9 per cent of games released on the platform in October disclosed the use of AI-generated content. This suggests that AI tools have become a significant part of the wider game development landscape.
The trend had already been visible earlier in the year. In June, nearly 20 per cent of game demos featured during Steam Next Fest disclosed the use of AI-generated content. The figures indicate a substantial presence of AI-assisted development across both released games and upcoming projects.
However, using AI does not automatically mean a game is unfinished or technically poor. Developers use these tools in different ways, and the final product’s quality still depends on how they apply the technology. Steam’s challenge is managing the growing number of submissions while maintaining its technical and quality requirements.
Independent developers face delays and lost launch momentum
The extended approval process has created difficulties for independent studios, particularly those working with limited marketing budgets and carefully planned release schedules.
For smaller developers, a game’s launch period can be critical. Marketing campaigns, promotional trailers, social media activity and wishlist growth are often coordinated around a specific release date. When approval takes longer than expected, these efforts can lose their impact, especially if players are left waiting without clear information about when a game will become available.
The delays have already affected developers who had prepared their promotional campaigns in advance. One example is Cubic Earth, whose developer, Structmira, described the consequences of the extended review process in an interview with PC Gamer.
“Our game’s trailer amassed more than 60,000 views on YouTube, and we had more than 6,000 wishlists,” the developer said.
Despite the initial interest, the delay created problems for the game’s community and promotional momentum. The developer added: “Now, our Steam Community page is rapidly filling with player complaints, and we’ve lost all momentum.”
The situation highlights how delays can affect more than a game’s release date. Players who added a title to their wishlists may become frustrated when the expected launch doesn’t happen. Meanwhile, developers may struggle to maintain interest after their promotional efforts have already attracted attention.
For independent studios, losing momentum can be particularly damaging because they often depend on organic visibility, community engagement and word-of-mouth recommendations rather than large advertising campaigns.
Valve’s new requirements could help prevent some of these problems by encouraging developers to identify technical issues before submitting their games. However, it remains to be seen whether the additional checks will be enough to bring approval times back to the company’s stated target of three to five days.
The company has acknowledged that more improvements to the build review process are coming. For now, developers must follow the updated submission requirements and ensure their games are properly tested before entering the approval queue.
