Valve reviews every store page before it goes live. A rejection means delays — sometimes days, sometimes weeks if you're stuck in a back-and-forth cycle.
Most Common Rejection Reasons
Missing or vague Early Access disclosures — no clear timeline, no explanation of current state
Placeholder or thin descriptions — "Coming soon!" isn't enough
No system requirements — even estimates are required
Undisclosed mature content — violence, nudity, or strong language not flagged
Broken external links — especially Discord links that lead nowhere
Trademark issues — referencing other games or brands incorrectly
Missing multiplayer details — how many players? Servers? Cross-play?
The good news: most of these are easy to fix before you submit. That's exactly what this guide (and our tool) helps you catch.
Early Access Requirements
If you're launching in Early Access, there are specific disclosures commonly expected. This is one of the most common rejection points.
Early Access Compliance Free Check
Our tool scans for required Early Access disclosures including current state, development timeline, pricing changes, and community involvement.
What Valve Requires
Your Early Access section should typically address these questions:
Why Early Access? — Explain why you're launching early instead of waiting for full release
Current State — What's playable now? What's missing?
Development Timeline — How long will Early Access last? (Be realistic)
Price Changes — Will the price increase at full release?
Community Involvement — How can players give feedback?
"We're in Early Access because we want player feedback to shape development." — This alone isn't enough. Be specific about what feedback you need and how you'll use it.
Common Mistakes
Vague timelines like "when it's ready" — give at least an estimated range
No mention of current playable content
Forgetting to address pricing
Not explaining how to provide feedback (Discord, forums, email)
Description Quality
Your "About This Game" section is your sales pitch. Valve expects substance, not placeholder text.
Description Quality Free Check
We check for minimum length, placeholder text, excessive marketing fluff, and missing gameplay details.
What Makes a Good Description
Lead with gameplay — What does the player actually do?
Be specific — "Explore a vast world" vs "Explore 50+ handcrafted dungeons across 5 biomes"
Include features — Bullet points are fine here
Avoid pure marketing speak — "Revolutionary gameplay experience" says nothing
Minimum 300 words — Thin descriptions get flagged
Red Flags
"Coming soon" or placeholder text
Copy-pasted descriptions from other platforms
Walls of text with no structure
All hype, no substance
Pricing Transparency
If your game includes additional purchases — DLC, microtransactions, subscriptions — you should disclose them.
Pricing Transparency Free Check
We detect mentions of DLC, in-app purchases, subscriptions, and season passes to ensure proper disclosure.
What to Disclose
Planned DLC or expansions
In-game purchases or microtransactions
Subscription requirements
Battle passes or season content
Any additional costs beyond base game price
System Requirements
Every game needs system requirements — minimum at the very least, recommended ideally.
System Requirements Premium Check
We verify OS, processor, memory, graphics, and storage are all specified for minimum requirements.
Required Fields
OS — Windows 10, Windows 11, etc.
Processor — Specific CPU model or equivalent
Memory — RAM in GB
Graphics — GPU model or equivalent
Storage — Disk space required
Tip: If you're unsure about exact requirements, estimate conservatively and update after more testing. Placeholder like "TBD" is commonly rejected.
Mature Content Disclosure
Undisclosed mature content is a fast track to rejection — and potentially getting your game pulled later.
Mature Content Disclosure Premium Check
We scan for references to violence, blood, nudity, sexual content, drugs, and strong language.
Content to Flag
Violence and gore
Blood and dismemberment
Nudity or sexual content
Drug or alcohol use
Strong language
Horror or disturbing imagery
Use Steam's mature content questionnaire honestly. Under-reporting can lead to your game being pulled post-launch.
Multiplayer & Network Features
If your game has any online component, Valve wants specifics.
Multiplayer/Network Features Premium Check
We verify player counts, server information, and online requirements are clearly stated.
What to Include
Player count — "2-4 players" or "Up to 64 players"
Connection type — Peer-to-peer or dedicated servers?
Online requirements — Always online? Optional?
Cross-play — If supported, mention it
Regional servers — If applicable
External Links Policy
Steam allows external links but has rules about what's permitted and where.
External Links Premium Check
We detect Discord links, social media, and external websites to ensure compliance.
Allowed Links
Your official website
Discord server (must be active and moderated)
Social media profiles
Press kits or media pages
Not Allowed
Links to competing storefronts
Affiliate or referral links
Links that bypass Steam for purchases
Support & Contact Info
Players need a way to reach you. Valve expects support information on every store page.
Support/Contact Info Premium Check
We verify the presence of email addresses, support URLs, or help desk links.
Acceptable Support Options
Support email address
Help desk or ticketing system link
Discord with active support channel
Official forums with developer presence
Language Support
Accurately list which languages your game supports — and at what level.
Language Support Premium Check
We check for language claims and ensure interface vs. full audio distinctions are clear.
Support Levels
Interface — Menus and UI only
Subtitles — Text for dialogue
Full Audio — Voice acting in that language
Don't claim "Full Audio" if you only have subtitles. Players will complain and refund.
Legal & Copyright
Trademark issues can delay or kill your launch. Be careful with references to other games, brands, or IP.
Legal & Copyright Premium Check
We flag potential trademark references, missing attributions, and comparison claims.
Common Issues
"Like Dark Souls" — Reference gameplay style, not the trademark
Fan games — Need explicit permission from IP holder