Valve has launched a new warning system on Steam that alerts users when early access games haven’t received updates for extended periods. This feature aims to help buyers make more informed decisions before purchasing games that might be inactive or abandoned.
The warning appears directly on a game’s store page when it hasn’t received meaningful updates for over a year. “The last update made by the developer was over [x] months ago,” the notice states, adding that “the information and timeline described here by the developers may no longer be up to date.”
This change comes as early access games continue to grow in popularity on Steam. According to SteamDB data, the platform has seen a dramatic increase in early access titles, rising from just seven games in 2013 to 2,605 in the previous year. While successful early access games like Hades, Subnautica, RimWorld, and Baldur’s Gate 3 have shown the potential of this model, with Baldur’s Gate 3 becoming a smash hit in 2023, other games remain incomplete or abandoned.
The warning system tracks updates made to early access titles. Currently, changes to beta branches or updates like YouTube videos from developers aren’t recognized by the system. For instance, Heartbound, despite having recent developer communications and beta updates, still displays the warning due to its main branch remaining unchanged for over 13 months.
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Some games show more extreme cases of inactivity. Cavern Kings, for example, carries a warning indicating no updates for over eight years, clearly signaling to potential buyers that the game’s development has likely ceased.
The system operates as part of Steam’s broader efforts to improve transparency on its platform. In recent years, Steam has introduced several user-focused features, including enhanced review filtering, video game recording capabilities, and expanded family sharing options. This latest addition continues that trend by providing users with more information about game development status.
While Valve hasn’t publicly detailed the exact criteria for triggering these warnings or their reasoning behind the feature’s implementation, the move addresses a long-standing concern in the gaming community about early access titles that never reach completion. The warning system provides a straightforward way for users to assess the current state of early access games without having to dig through update histories and user reviews.
The implementation of this warning system suggests developers may need to consider more regular updates to their main game branches to avoid having their games flagged with these warnings. This focus on tracking main branch updates emphasizes the importance of delivering game content improvements.
As the early access model continues to evolve on Steam, this warning system represents another step toward protecting consumer interests while maintaining the benefits of the early access development model for both developers and players.