In a recent update, Valve has made a notable change to the way Early Access games are presented on the Steam storefront. SteamDB has confirmed that the platform will now include a warning for users regarding stagnant projects, specifically highlighting the duration since the last developer update. This new notice will be prominently displayed immediately following the Early Access notification and prior to the developer’s description.
Comparative Insights
To illustrate this change, one can look at the contrasting examples of Fields of Mistria and Folk Tale. The former, a life simulation game reminiscent of Stardew Valley, is currently in Early Access and receives regular updates. As a result, players will not see any warning notice on its product page. For instance, NPC Studio recently announced an update scheduled for March 2025.
In stark contrast, Folk Tale entered Early Access in 2013 but saw its development come to a halt in 2017. Consequently, the warning notice appears on its page, stating, “Note: The last update made by the developers was over 7 years ago. The information and timeline described by the developers here may no longer be up to date.”
Valve has yet to specify the exact duration that must elapse since the last update for the warning to be triggered on an Early Access game’s product page. This ambiguity leaves room for speculation about how the platform will manage the balance between encouraging developers and protecting consumers from potentially abandoned projects.
This development reflects Valve’s ongoing commitment to improving user experience on Steam, ensuring that players are well-informed about the status of the games they are considering. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, such measures may prove essential in fostering transparency and trust between developers and their audience.
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