Valve Picks a Side and Makes a Change!

Summary

Valve has introduced new guidelines for season passes on Steam, emphasizing developer accountability for release timing and content transparency, with penalties for delays. This marks a shift from Valve's traditionally hands-off approach. The Steam Deck OLED was awarded *Best Gaming Hardware of 2024*, showcasing its popularity. Sony’s potential acquisition of From Software raises concerns about exclusivity for future PC ports, especially for games like *Elden Ring 2*. Meanwhile, a community-driven project has created a high-quality PC port of *Star Fox 64*, offering enhanced features and performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Valve is tightening its policies on season passes, now requiring game developers to commit to clear release schedules and communicate DLC content before selling season passes on Steam.
• 😀 Valve's new guidelines emphasize that developers must provide a full list of content included in season passes, descriptions for each DLC, and an expected release date down to the quarter or season.
• 😀 Valve allows developers one opportunity to delay a DLC by up to three months but requires direct communication if further delays are necessary, with penalties for failure to meet deadlines.
• 😀 If a developer cancels a DLC, Valve will offer refunds to customers for the value of the unreleased content, and may take action like removing the season pass from sale.
• 😀 These changes indicate Valve's shift from a hands-off, laissez-faire approach to a more active role in managing content delivery and customer trust on Steam.
• 😀 Steam Deck OLED has been awarded 'Best Gaming Hardware of 2024' by the Golden Joystick Awards, demonstrating the growing popularity of Valve's portable gaming device.
• 😀 The potential acquisition of FromSoftware by Sony could have negative consequences for PC gaming, including delayed PC ports or timed exclusivity for games like Elden Ring 2.
• 😀 Valve's Steam forums remain under-moderated, with some users pointing out issues of hate speech and toxic behavior, though there are calls for more effective moderation to improve the community.
• 😀 Valve may still offer some developer freedoms (like allowing controversial DRM systems), but they now hold developers accountable for keeping promises about content delivery and sales practices.
• 😀 Unofficial game ports like 'Starship' (a port of Star Fox 64) demonstrate the ongoing community efforts to bring older games to modern platforms, offering higher resolutions and more modding potential.

Q & A

What new guidelines has Valve issued for season passes on Steam?

Valve has updated its developer documentation to require that any season pass sold on Steam must include a complete list of all DLCs, a basic description of each DLC, and an expected release date for each. Developers must also commit to a release schedule and can only delay content by up to three months, with Valve requiring direct communication for further delays or cancellations.

How does Valve’s new policy affect developers who fail to meet their season pass commitments?

If developers fail to meet their commitments, Valve may take action, including removing the season pass from sale on Steam, offering refunds for unreleased DLCs, or allowing customers to refund the entire season pass. This marks a more active role for Valve in ensuring developers stick to their promises.

What happens if a developer needs to delay a DLC in a season pass beyond the original promise?

Valve allows a one-time delay of up to three months for a DLC in a season pass. If a delay exceeds this period, developers must contact Valve directly. Valve emphasizes the importance of maintaining trust with customers and may intervene if the delay negatively impacts the user experience.

Why is Valve making these changes regarding season passes on Steam?

Valve is trying to balance giving developers freedom while ensuring that customers are not misled or disappointed by broken promises. These changes are aimed at improving transparency and accountability, ensuring that users get what they were promised when purchasing a season pass.

What are some of the benefits of Valve’s more hands-on approach to Steam content?

Valve’s approach could improve trust in the platform, encourage developers to adhere to quality standards, and ultimately benefit PC gamers. If successful, it may also lead to better overall experiences, such as more games supporting Steam Deck features or integrating Steam Cloud saves.

What are the potential impacts of Sony’s acquisition of FromSoftware on PC gamers?

If Sony acquires FromSoftware, PC gamers might face longer waits for PC ports of games like Elden Ring and Armored Core 6, as Sony is known for prioritizing PlayStation exclusivity. There's also a risk that these games could require a PSN login on PC or be restricted to PlayStation consoles initially.

What controversy surrounds the Steam Deck OLED being named Best Gaming Hardware of 2024?

While the Steam Deck OLED winning the award is a significant achievement, some feel that other contenders, such as the ROG Ally, deserved more recognition. The award reflects the Steam Deck's growing popularity, but some argue that alternatives like the ROG Ally offer features that should have been considered.

What is Valve’s stance on content moderation on Steam?

Valve has traditionally maintained a hands-off approach to content moderation on Steam. However, there has been increasing pressure from outside parties, including U.S. senators, to moderate hate speech and extremist ideologies on the platform. Valve has shown some willingness to intervene but is still criticized for inconsistent moderation practices.

How does Valve’s new policy impact developers’ marketing strategies for season passes?

The policy forces developers to be more transparent about their marketing. They must now clearly commit to the content and timing of DLC releases. If developers fail to deliver, it can negatively impact their sales, reviews, and reputation, encouraging them to only offer season passes when they are confident about the timeline.

What recent change was made to the Steam client beta concerning the ROG Ally?

In a recent Steam client beta patch, Valve fixed an issue where duplicate controllers appeared when using the ROG Ally. This update was meant to improve the device's compatibility with Steam, particularly for users running Windows or Linux.