Steam has been a great place for small and medium-sized game developers to be discovered. The platform’s early access program helps gamers find lesser-known games that are still in the process of being built. However, some gamers have experienced frustration with certain titles. Because these studios don’t have a huge financial backing, the games can often fall by the wayside, upsetting fans who bought the game not realizing it had been months since an update. A new Steam update is set to help alert players to this so they don’t waste money on an abandoned game.

Steam Being More Clear With Early Access Games

User SteamDB was the first to notice the new message from Steam. You can see an example of the message in a screenshot below. The user gives the example of the game Cavern Kings, which has the familiar early access banner. However, under that, there is another message. “Note: the last update made by these developers was over 8 years ago. The information and timeline described by the developers may no longer be up to date.”

This is a welcome sight for many gamers. It doesn’t matter what product someone is buying. Consumers want to know exactly what they are getting. Steam is making it so players do not accidentally purchase something that is never going to get worked on. It is unclear exactly how long a game has to sit dormant in order to get the warning. It’s simply a safeguard, as the platform can’t remove the games but can make sure players know what they are buying.

Potential Pitfalls

While this is overall a welcome change, it does put a lot of pressure on smaller developers. In some cases, one or two people may be working on a game. If there is a personal issue that lasts for months, like a medical problem, the game could go dormant, but the intention to continue to update could still be there. The game Heartbound sat for months and was tagged with a warning. However, the developer posted an update explaining the delay.

It shows there are still some kinks to be worked out. This is a platform that can benefit both gamers and developers. This update isn’t meant to stifle developers, and the update needs clearer communication. How long can a game sit with no updates before the banner gets put on the game? With more people flocking to PC gaming, the platform will have to make sure it keeps the delicate ecosystem intact.