Valve has been known for its lenient refund policy on Steam for the past eight years. However, recent changes aim to close a significant loophole that allowed users to play games for extended periods before requesting a refund.
Valve initially introduced the “Early Access” and “Advanced Access” programs, which allowed users to play games before their official release dates. However, this introduced a loophole in the refund policy, as players could rack up many hours of gameplay and still request a refund.
Valve’s updated refund policy now states that any playtime in Early Access or Advanced Access programs will count against the two-hour refund limit. This means that users can no longer play games extensively before deciding to refund them.
Previously, users who pre-purchased titles on Steam could request a refund at any time before the release date. However, now the standard 14-day/two-hour refund period will apply starting on the game’s release date. This change aims to prevent users from abusing the refund system for pre-purchased titles.
Valve’s decision to tighten its refund policy on Steam comes as a response to users taking advantage of loopholes in the system. By counting playtime in Early Access and Advanced Access programs against the refund limit, Valve aims to ensure that users are making informed decisions when purchasing games. These changes reflect a shift towards a more balanced and fair refund policy for all users on the Steam platform.
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