Valve, the company behind the popular gaming platform Steam, has recently made changes to its refund policy for games purchased through the platform. The new policy now includes restrictions on playtime for games in Early Access and Advanced Access programs.
Initially, Valve offered a no-questions-asked refund policy for any game purchased on Steam, as long as the refund was requested within 14 days of purchase and the player had not played more than two hours of the game. However, with the introduction of Early Access and Advanced Access programs, a loophole allowed players to accumulate playtime before requesting a refund.
Valve’s updated refund policy now states that playtime in games purchased prior to the release date, including those in Early Access or Advanced Access, will count against the two-hour limit for refunds. This means that players will no longer be able to play extensively before requesting a refund.
The closure of this loophole may impact players who were previously taking advantage of the system by playing games extensively before deciding to refund them. By restricting playtime to two hours for all games, Valve aims to prevent abuse of the refund policy and create a more fair experience for both players and developers.
Previously, players could pre-purchase a game on Steam and request a refund at any time before the release date, with the two-hour playtime limit only applying after the game was officially launched. However, with the new changes, playtime in pre-purchased games will also count towards the two-hour limit.
Valve’s updated refund policy is a step towards ensuring fairness and integrity in the gaming community. By implementing playtime limits for Early Access and Advanced Access games, the company aims to prevent abuse of the refund system and create a more transparent experience for all users. Players should be aware of these changes when purchasing games on Steam and understand the implications of the updated policy.
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