Can't store any gifts in Inventory

[LordBuckethead]

I plan to do a big giveaway for my gaming group mid-Summer so I'm stocking up games in my Steam inventory. I've been doing giveaways for over a year with no issue but I suddenly can't store any games in my inventory anymore.

When I click 'Purchase as a gift', it only offers me the option to directly send it to my Steam friend - no more option to save the game in my inventory for later. It's simply gone. No error message, no restriction notice, nothing. This happens on all games. I know that VAC-protected games can't be stored in Inventory.

Is there a max amount of gifts I can have in my inventory or something? I got some of the gifts stored already from previous purchases. The option to save the game in my inventory disappeared yesterday.

I will appreciate it if you guys can help me out with this issue.
Thank you!

Note: I am aware that I can simply send the games directly after the giveaway winners have been announced. But I prefer storing the games instead of keeping it as Steam wallet balance.

[LordBuckethead]

As I said before, I've been doing many giveaways for over a year, all with the same method. I purchase the games that will be given as prizes and store it in my inventory, announce the prizes, launch the giveaway, and send the prizes in my inventory.

I use this method because I don't like having a large amount of Steam wallet balance showing up on my screen - it attracts too much unwanted attention from people around me. Storing the games in my inventory allows me to have better privacy.

The aforementioned method has worked for me even before I do the giveaways. I can absolutely confirm that we used to be able to store games in our inventory as gifts.

I noticed the change yesterday. The option to store the gifts in my inventory suddenly disappeared.

Good to know that Valve just had some policy changes! I'll look into it, probably has something to do with storing games in inventory.

Thanks

[rat]

It seems neither can anyone else, under any circumstances. I received a gift from a friend and after clicking "accept gift" it took me straight to the "add game to library" prompt.

Valve says it's to prevent cheaters from stockpiling games.

Me? I say it's to prevent traders from stockpiling discounted games. Call me paranoid, but Valve can't make money off steam trades. Just a thought.

[LordBuckethead]

From the receiving point, it has always been like that unless the game is region restricted. Region-restricted games would automatically go to the inventory for later activation. I was surprised that now they also do not allow senders to store the game. Seems like Mr.Oren is correct, Valve's new update has something to do with this.

That makes sense. Valve's sales must have dropped recently due to third-party sellers stockpiling games during sales, so they took measures to prevent it. Never thought of that since I was so focused on my giveaway issue.

Thanks for giving me that point of view! At least now I'm aware there's a justifiable reason for the removal of the feature.

[Hodman]

https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/1301948399254001159