Steam’s New Warning System Flags Inactive Early Access Games

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Summary

  • Valve now warns players about inactive games in Early Access to prevent purchasing abandoned projects.
  • Games with over a year of inactivity receive a warning, with 20+ months labeled as high risk.
  • Developers must update store pages regularly to avoid warnings and mislead players.

Valve has introduced a new feature that alerts users about games worthy of investment during the alpha or beta stages on Steam. Now, when you visit the Early Access section for games that haven’t been updated in a while, a heads-up will appear, helping you make informed decisions about potential investments.

A discovery made by SteamDB alerts users about games that haven’t received any updates in more than a year. Beneath this warning, there is a space for developers to provide updates on the game’s current state. This alert assists in making wiser choices, avoiding unintentional purchases of outdated or abandoned projects.

Steam’s Early Access Needs Transparency

Previously, Early Access had been a realm of ambiguity, with the main concern being that after projects are abandoned, they continue to be sold to unsuspecting gamers. Valve is now tackling this issue in an effort to clean up the platform and make it the premier destination it has become for indie developers seeking feedback and funding.

Notable instances such as Deadside (which was developed over a span of four years) and Neon Echo (that continues to appear on Steam even after its initial cancellation by the developers).

The new alert primarily informs you when there’s no activity, but it doesn’t automatically imply that the game has been abandoned. It’s simply a helpful reminder before you invest your valuable resources into a seemingly idle undertaking.

How Does the Steam Inactive Early Access Games Alert Work?

Valve hasn’t specified an exact time period, but a warning pops up following about a year without use. Games that haven’t been updated for over 20 months fall under the “high risk” category and are strongly advised against using.

In this case, it appears that the primary store listing is the key factor. Therefore, if a game hasn’t been updated on its private branches, it might be marked as inactive without surprise.

Developers of the latest feature are encouraged to frequently refresh their store pages, providing players with timely updates. This includes making improvements not only for the beta version but also for the primary listing. It is essential that they highlight these updates within the Early Access section as well.

It’s likely that from now on, game development will be thoroughly documented, enabling developers to effectively use the latest feature to foster better communication with gamers. This update, in particular, equips players with a stronger understanding of the development process while working on the beta editions.

It’s yet unclear if this solution will effectively address the Early Access issue. Valve should provide more details on how they plan to handle ongoing projects that typically require several years for completion. Additionally, there’s a concern about developers releasing minor updates to circumvent the warning timer without making substantial progress in their project.

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2025-02-05 23:10