Steam Developer Calls for Policy Change After Players Refund Praised

A Steam game developer criticizes the refund policy after players refund a well-received game.

A developer behind indie boat adventure Paddle Paddle Paddle, Zoroarts, has urged Steam to reconsider its refund policy. Despite glowing reviews, players were able to refund the game after completion. Zoroarts highlighted that even with a 'Very Positive' review average, the game faced a 21% refund rate, amounting to over 55,000 refunds.

Zoroarts expressed frustration over players completing the game quickly and refunding it, despite the intended gameplay length. The developer emphasized the need for Steam to address this issue and suggested clearer labeling for short experiences to prevent 'Too short' from being a refund reason.

Valve's terms and conditions already mention consequences for abusing the refund system, but the extent of enforcement remains uncertain amidst the ongoing debate.