Valve has tightened the rules for posting season passes on the Steam service. Now developers and publishers will not be able to go back on their promises and commitments when it comes to DLC passes.
Image source: Bethesda Softworks
The season pass offer is a promise of future content. During the pass launch process, developers must provide a brief description and release date for each DLC – this is a “commitment to consumers and Steam.”
«If you are not prepared to clearly communicate what each DLC will contain and when it will be ready for release, you should not offer the Season Pass on Steam,” the updated rules state.
Season Pass S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 includes two expansion packs – it’s unclear when they’ll be released or what they’ll offer (image source: Steam)
Developers are allowed to shift the established release date of the add-on once, but not more than by three months. If the delay is longer, Valve reserves the right to:
- Remove the season pass from sale on Steam;
- Refund customers the cost of unreleased DLC (a similar action will follow as a result of the cancellation of the add-on);
- Give consumers the opportunity to request a refund for the entire pass.
In addition, at the release of the game, the season pass available for purchase must include at least one released addition from those included in the package – an “empty” pass cannot be sold.
Image source: PcGamesn
Valve will also limit the sale of season passes to a narrow circle of partners with a proven reputation on Steam, with whom strong relationships have been established over the years of collaboration.
Previously, Valve closed a loophole in the Steam refund policy: starting in April, “time spent in the game during the extended access period will be taken into account when processing a refund request.”