Source: Valve
Valve tells developers: “If you aren’t ready to clearly communicate about the content included in each DLC [...], you shouldn’t offer a Season Pass on Steam.”
Valve, the company behind software distribution platform Steam, has updated its policy regarding Season Passes.
A Season Pass is a pack of current and future downloadable content (also known as DLCs) for an existing game, and which customers can avail with a single purchase. Essentially, a Season Pass is a DLC pre-purchase, as developers are promising future content for their games in a set amount of time.
In the updated policy, Valve has set new guidelines for developers to follow when making a Season Pass available on Steam, which must include information like a complete list of all DLC included in the pass, a basic description of each DLC, and an expected release date for each DLC included. Valve has also reiterated that a Season Pass must include at least one released DLC when it is made available for purchase, with the exception of deluxe editions where Season Passes are included in pre-purchases.
Valve also acknowledged the unfortunate events of delays or cancellations. As such, the platform will allow a self-reschedule only once during the Season Pass duration, which will permit developers to pick a new date up to 3 months after the original schedule. If a DLC in a Season Pass is cancelled, customers will be refunded for the value of the unreleased DLC. Furthermore, Valve pointed out that under the Steam Distribution Agreement, developers are expected to have their DLCs conform to the descriptions provided to customers, including announced release dates.
If the DLC is delayed by more than 3 months, even if there is no customer complaint, Valve is now entitled to take any necessary actions, which include removing the Season Pass from sale on Steam, and refunding all customers who purchased the Season Pass for the value of the unreleased DLC or the entire Season Pass. If the Season Pass content is not released after one year, Valve can refund all customers and remove the Season Pass from sale.
Valve states that “[By] offering a Season Pass, you are promising future content. In the process of launching a Season Pass you will be asked to commit to a launch timing for each content release in the Season Pass. That launch timing is a commitment to both customers and Steam.”
