Steam policy question regarding changing the contents of a game

[Bunstructors]

Does Steam have a policy as to, when games are updated, how much can a game actually change? I understand that devs should have a lot of freedom on the design of their own games, but what happens if a feature advertised at release gets removed later? Or, for an extreme example, the game becomes something completely different after an update?

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Unless they're breaking one of the guidelines that Steam doesn't approve of is the only way they could get removed.

Devs are free to make any changes, as much as they like.

[Bunstructors]

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Unless they're breaking one of the guidelines that the only way they could get removed.

Devs are free to make any changes, as much as they like.

Is the guideline available for me to have a look? Thanks

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Here two things you can read up on.

https://partner.steamgames.com/steamdirect

https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/1666776116200553082

[Bunstructors]

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

https://partner.steamgames.com/steamdirect

https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/1666776116200553082

Thanks a lot

[Bunstructors]

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Here two things you can read up on.

https://partner.steamgames.com/steamdirect

https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/1666776116200553082

Well, that's a really short one...

[Darren]

Yeah, essentially there is no limitation to changes the developers are allowed to make to their games after release. If they want to turn a FPS into a puzzle platformer after release they would be entirely within their rights to do so.

Now given the cost of making significant changes to a game and the fact that unless they make it as DLC or an entirely new game they can't charge their player base for the update it's highly unlikely for absolutely massive changes to be made for no reason (no real financial upside for them compared to just making it a new game).

[Kargor]

There are a couple of common misunderstandings when it comes to the game industry.

• The customers of "AAA" publishers are not players. "AAA" publishers serve investors.
  
• The target audience of "Steam" are not players. Steam works for the publishers -- which means Steam protects publishers from harm, but lets THEM do whatever they want with the games and users.

[Darren]

Originally posted by Kargor:

There are a couple of common misunderstandings when it comes to the game industry.

• The customers of "AAA" publishers are not players. "AAA" publishers serve investors.
  
• The target audience of "Steam" are not players. Steam works for the publishers -- which means Steam protects publishers from harm, but lets THEM do whatever they want with the games and users.

Well Valve tries to tread a middle ground between Developer/Publishers wants and needs (control over sales, ability to change their games, Early Access, publisher pages) and Gamers wants and needs (refunds, quick easy access to download their games, blocking developers, enabling/disabling adult content based on your personal opinion as to whether that should be on Steam, and some ability to block games by tags).

They probably never get the balance exactly right, but they need to keep a relative balance as they need Gamers to buy products, and Developers/Publishers to be willing to list them on Steam.

[Bunstructors]

Originally posted by Darren:

Yeah, essentially there is no limitation to changes the developers are allowed to make to their games after release. If they want to turn a FPS into a puzzle platformer after release they would be entirely within their rights to do so.

Now given the cost of making significant changes to a game and the fact that unless they make it as DLC or an entirely new game they can't charge their player base for the update it's highly unlikely for absolutely massive changes to be made for no reason (no real financial upside for them compared to just making it a new game).

I understand that it doesn't make sense for devs to do it, but what if someone actually does it? Would it be considered "trolling"?

[Darren]

Originally posted by MikeKimPiggy:

Originally posted by Darren:

Yeah, essentially there is no limitation to changes the developers are allowed to make to their games after release. If they want to turn a FPS into a puzzle platformer after release they would be entirely within their rights to do so.

Now given the cost of making significant changes to a game and the fact that unless they make it as DLC or an entirely new game they can't charge their player base for the update it's highly unlikely for absolutely massive changes to be made for no reason (no real financial upside for them compared to just making it a new game).

I understand that it doesn't make sense for devs to do it, but what if someone actually does it? Would it be considered "trolling"?

Not necessarily, it would be weird but they could definitely make the game into something that was trolling (like just a menu with a Quit button, or something equally ridiculous) and that would get the game pulled from the store until at least they replaced it with something reasonable probably permanently.

But a massive change wouldn't necessarily be trolling. Removing say ship customisation from a strategy game would be a fairly massive change, but could also be reasonable for say combating multiplayer balance issues impeding tournament play.

This is the kind of category of changes that's reasonable to expect developers to make in general ones that are trying to improve the game in some way (that might miss the mark significantly don't get me wrong changes aren't always the right call) in order to get more sales, or stretch the longevity of a game where the developer is gambling the additional funds paid to make these changes will be less than the additional revenue they hope to get from them.

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by MikeKimPiggy:

Does Steam have a policy as to, when games are updated, how much can a game actually change? I understand that devs should have a lot of freedom on the design of their own games, but what happens if a feature advertised at release gets removed later? Or, for an extreme example, the game becomes something completely different after an update?

That's uyp to the devs. The only thing they are required to do is remove the feature details from the store page. This happens all the time. Particularly with multiplayer features.

[Bunstructors]

Thanks for the replies guys

[Winged One]

they can do it if they want, Valve is not the developers boss, they are just the distribution platform (aka the storefront, nothing more).. the developers are free to make any changes they feel are needed

is there a specific game you are thinking of?

Originally posted by Kargor:

There are a couple of common misunderstandings when it comes to the game industry.

• The customers of "AAA" publishers are not players. "AAA" publishers serve investors.
  
• The target audience of "Steam" are not players. Steam works for the publishers -- which means Steam protects publishers from harm, but lets THEM do whatever they want with the games and users.

thats not how investing works FYI, not even close..