Steam Tightens Refund Policy for Advanced Access Games

Steam has recently closed a refund loophole that allowed players to get their money back on games labeled as "Early Access". This change comes as more big triple-A games offer premium versions, allowing players to access the full game a few days early for an additional fee.

A Shift in Game Sales

In the past few years, the landscape of game sales has evolved. Many publishers offer a premium version of games, giving players early access to the full game for an extra cost. This has led to a loophole in Steam's refund policy, particularly with games labeled as "Early Access".

The Confusion around Early Access

The term "Early Access" traditionally referred to games that were still in development, sold at a lower price, and open to player feedback. These games often had bugs or missing content. Players could refund Early Access games at any point.

Introducing Advanced Access

To address the confusion, Steam has redefined the early access period for complete games as "Advanced Access". Players who purchase premium editions for early access will no longer be eligible for a refund if they have played for more than two hours.

Changes to Refund Eligibility

Under the new policy, players can still refund a game in Advanced Access if they have played for less than two hours. However, the hours played during the Advanced Access period will now count towards a player's eligibility for a refund.

This change aims to prevent players from completing games in the Advanced Access period and then refunding them, even after playing for extended periods.

Steam's move to tighten its refund policy reflects a growing trend in the gaming industry towards clearer guidelines on early access and premium game offerings.