DLC delays now limited to three months, plus mandatory refunds for cancellations

Valve have unveiled a new policy about season passes on Steam, which aims to ensure that developers release all the individual DLC involved on time and share adequate details about each DLC pack in advance. It specifies that developers can delay release of a season pass DLC just once, and by no longer than three months. In the event that a developer postpones DLC release by longer than three months, Valve may take such corrective actions as removing the season pass from sale or refunding players.

“If you aren’t ready to clearly communicate about the content included in each DLC AND when each DLC will be ready for launch, you shouldn’t offer a Season Pass on Steam,” it goes on.

“Selling a Season Pass has risks; since you are promising the release of future content, you have to commit to completing that content on time. If customers don’t like the content you’re releasing in the Season Pass or the timing of that content release, that will be reflected in sales and reviews.”

The post includes a set of required features for any season pass on Steam. Come feast your eyes upon these hot juicy bulletpoints:

  • A complete list of all DLC included in the Pass. (i.e. listing each of the four DLCs included in a Pass).

Valve add that a season pass should include at least one released DLC when it goes on sale, with the obvious exception of season passes sold as part of a pre-order.

As for delays on any DLC releases sold as part of a season pass, Valve will allow developers “to self-reschedule the release date one time only” by “up to 3 months later than you originally selected”. If a DLC pack needs a longer extension, the creators will need to contact Valve directly and haggle it out.

In the event of DLC cancellations, Valve mandate that customers will be offered a refund for the value of unreleased DLC. The company may take action on any DLC delays of longer than three months, even if there hasn’t been a customer complaint.

“Actions include removing the Season Pass from sale on Steam, refunding all customers who purchased the Season Pass for the value of unreleased DLC, or allowing customers the option of refunding the entire Season Pass,” the post goes on. “For the purposes of refunds, the value of unreleased DLC will be decided in discussion with Valve.”