Steam Revises Season Pass Policy: Mandates Clear DLC Details and Release Dates

Valve has just rolled out an important update to Steam’s policy on Season Passes, putting more responsibility on developers to give players a clear picture of what they’re purchasing. Essentially, developers are now expected to make sure players know exactly what downloadable content (DLC) is included in a Season Pass and when they can expect to receive it.

Under these new rules, if a developer wants to sell a Season Pass, it must contain at least one piece of DLC ready to go the moment it’s available for purchase.

There’s more to it as well. Developers need to provide a complete rundown of all the DLC that’s part of the Season Pass. This includes outlining an expected release date for each piece and offering a basic description of what each DLC will include.

Valve has set out some guidelines for this: Dates should at least specify the upcoming season or quarter, alongside the year—or be even more specific if possible. As for content descriptions, they just need to give a general idea, like “new area to explore, two new weapons, and new enemies.” However, developers do have some flexibility to tweak DLC names closer to their release if needed.

Valve sheds light on this new approach by saying, “By offering a Season Pass, you are promising future content,” and adds that when launching a Season Pass, developers need to commit to a timeline for each release. This isn’t just about accountability to customers but also to Steam itself.

Importantly, Valve advises against selling a Season Pass if developers can’t commit to communicating both the content and the timing of each DLC. Selling a Season Pass involves risks, and developers are expected to follow through with all promised content on a timely basis.

For players, there’s a notable point to consider: What happens if a DLC is delayed or canceled? Developers are allowed one delay, pushing the release date up to three months later than originally planned. Anything beyond that requires dialogue with Valve. If a DLC is completely scrapped, customers should expect a refund for the value of any unreleased content, detailed further in Valve’s policy page.

So, what do you think about these changes? Do they make you more confident about investing in Season Passes? We’re curious to hear your thoughts in the comments below!