Steam Revises Season Pass Policy: No More Mystery Boxes; DLC Details and Release Dates Now Required

Valve has made some changes to Steam’s guidelines for developers who want to sell Season Passes for their games. The emphasis is now squarely on ensuring that developers “clearly communicate” to players what downloadable content (DLC) is included in a pass and when it’s expected to be released.

According to the updated guidelines, developers or publishers offering a Season Pass need to include “at least one released DLC when it becomes available for purchase.” This ensures players get immediate value from their purchase, rather than just a promise of future content.

Additionally, the requirements go further. Developers must provide “a complete list of all DLC included in the Pass,” “an expected release date for each DLC,” and “a basic description of the content included in each DLC.” Valve’s examples for these requirements suggest that dates should be specified as a season or quarter along with the year, or more precisely if possible. Descriptions need only give a rough outline, such as “new area to explore, two new weapons, and new enemies.” Developers have some flexibility to change the DLC name closer to release.

Valve explained the rationale behind these changes by stating that a Season Pass promises future content. As such, they expect developers to commit to a launch timeline for each DLC included. This commitment is not only to Steam but primarily to the customers.

If a developer isn’t ready to specify what content each DLC will include and when it will be ready, Valve suggests that they shouldn’t list a Season Pass on Steam. Selling a Season Pass involves commitments and deadlines for future content, and Valve wants developers to adhere to those promises.

For players, there’s an important clause in these guidelines regarding delays or cancellations of DLC. If a developer needs to delay a DLC for a “one-time” reason, they can choose a new date, provided it’s within three months of the original. For longer delays, they must contact Valve. And if a DLC included in a purchased Season Pass gets canceled, players will be “offered a refund for the value of unreleased DLC.”

So, what do you think about these changes to the Season Pass policy? Will it make you feel more secure in purchasing Season Passes? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!