In order to prevent players from exploiting a loophole, Steam has revised its refund policy.
The refund policy of Steam has been modified to prevent some players from obtaining refunds for games they have played beyond two hours. Who will be impacted by this modification?
Refund policy for Steam has been updated
If you are familiar with the refund process of a game on Steam, then you must be aware that there are two main requirements to be eligible for it. Firstly, your ownership of the game should not exceed 14 days and secondly, you shouldn’t have played more than two hours till date.
However, a way around this existed: Advanced Access games. Unlike Early Access games that require buying an unfinished game to play early versions, Advanced Access enables those who pre-order the game to enjoy playing it before its official release date.
Advanced Access is essentially a benefit for game customers that typically comes as part of deluxe editions or pre-purchase incentives.
The reason behind the refund loophole was that Advanced Access hours were excluded from the tally of total hours played, thereby enabling users to obtain refunds for games they had invested a substantial amount of time in.
On 24 April, Steam made an announcement that things would be different from now on. According to a blog post by the company itself:
The playing time accrued in the Advanced Access phase will now be included in the Steam refund duration.
Beta testing, however, remains exempt from the change.
Previously, Advanced Access was a feature included with certain games such as Starfield. Alongside early game access prior to release, users can take advantage of its ability to post Steam reviews ahead of launch date.
You Will Be Affected by the New Refund Policy
If you do not pre-purchase games with Advanced Access or opt for the perk in an upgraded edition, there will be no notable alterations for you.
If you plan to use Advanced Access, be mindful of your playtime in order to qualify for a refund. The recent change aims to deter players from exploiting the early access period but may frustrate those experiencing server errors and glitches during their initial gameplay.
In my personal opinion, I am hesitant to pre-order games as there have been quality issues with launches, even for AAA titles.
However, it’s crucial that Steam players are aware of the increasing promotion of Advanced Access and other early play access that may render them ineligible for refunds based on their in-game time during these periods.
The new refund policy of Refund Loophole on Steam serves as a reminder that pre-ordering games should be avoided, especially if you share my sentiment. However, it is an enticing perk worth considering when trying out a game before its release date.
