Valve Is Tightening Steam’s Game Submission Rules After AI-Generated Games Flood the Review Queue
Developers must now run their games through Steam for at least five minutes before submitting for review.
Summary
Valve updated its Steam game release rules to clear an approval backlog heavily driven by a surge of AI-generated titles
Current review times have stretched to up to 12 business days, missing the platform's standard goal of three to five days
Developers must now complete mandatory functionality checks to prevent re-reviews and ease the strain on indie creators
Valve updated its Steam game release rules in a targeted effort to unclog a backlog of title approvals. Review times for new games on the storefront now take up to 12 business days to complete. This turnaround contrasts with Valve’s operational goal of reviewing new titles within three to five days. The company instituted new guidelines to eliminate constant re-reviews that contribute to longer wait times. Developer 2 Left Thumbs stated on X that review wait times spiked significantly around September and October.
The backlog follows a flood of new game titles on the platform, with a large portion created using AI. This influx of AI-generated content strained the review infrastructure at Steam, delaying submissions across the catalog. Reddit user u/ploz found that 49.9 percent of games released on Steam in October officially disclosed AI-generated content. That figure represents a rapid escalation from June, when nearly 20 percent of Next Fest game demos disclosed AI use.
To clear the pipeline, the new rules mandate stronger basic quality control at the developer level. Most notably, developers must run their games through Steam for at least five minutes to ensure they function properly on the platform. Valve implemented this after noting that it wasted time reviewing game builds that creators had never played through Steam. Beyond mandatory playtime, developers must confirm common redistributables like DirectX and Visual C++. Creators must also ensure game achievements are ready before release and verify that Steam Cloud save paths are configured correctly. Finally, developers must categorize game screenshots into specific buckets, labeling them as gameplay, menus, concept art or cinematics.
The approval delays caused collateral damage for indie developers, with games missing launch dates by weeks. These logistical failures cost creators marketing momentum and caused sudden player backlash during major releases. Developer structmira told PC Gamer that their indie title Cubic Earth fell victim to these delays. Despite previously amassing over 60,000 YouTube trailer views and securing 6,000 wishlists, structmira stated that Cubic Earth lost momentum and faced player complaints due to launch friction.
