PC powerhouse, Valve, has recently revamped its protocol for selling season passes on its Steam platform. According to the latest directives outlined on Steamworks, game developers and publishers are now required to set a specific release date when promoting upcoming content like season passes on their game’s store page. If they can’t “clearly communicate” the anticipated arrival of this content, Valve strongly advises against selling or permitting pre-orders for it.
Valve allows developers and publishers to use a broad release timeframe—such as a particular quarter, year, or season—as well as setting an exact date for the upcoming content.
Valve notes, “When you offer a Season Pass, you’re making a promise of future content.”
Further elaborating, Valve mentions, “During the launch process for a Season Pass, you’ll need to commit to a launch schedule for each content release included. This schedule is a promise to both your customers and Steam.”
“If you’re not prepared to clearly communicate the specifics of each DLC included and its launch date, you shouldn’t be putting a Season Pass up on Steam,” Valve advises.
