Steam Screenshot Requirements

Technical specifications and best practices for Steam store page screenshots.

Technical Specifications

Screenshot Specs

Minimum Size 1280 × 720 pixels

Recommended Size 1920 × 1080 pixels

Aspect Ratio 16:9 (strongly recommended)

Format PNG or JPG

Minimum Required 5 screenshots

Maximum Allowed ~20 screenshots

Use 1920×1080: Higher resolution screenshots look sharper in the lightbox view and show more detail.

Content Requirements

Screenshots MUST Show

Actual in-game footage (not pre-rendered)
Representative gameplay moments
Final or near-final visual quality

Screenshots MUST NOT Contain

Concept art or promotional renders
Pre-rendered cinematic stills
Award logos or accolades
Review quotes or scores
Marketing copy or descriptions
Pricing information
Watermarks or branding overlays

Common rejection: Using concept art or cinematic renders instead of actual gameplay screenshots.

Screenshot Order Strategy

The order of your screenshots matters significantly. The first 4 appear in hover previews.

Core Gameplay

Show what players actually DO. This is the most important screenshot.

Visual Hook

Your most visually impressive moment — a beautiful environment or exciting action.

Variety

Different area, mechanic, or game mode to show scope.

Unique Feature

Whatever makes your game different from competitors.

Supporting Details

UI systems, progression, additional areas, multiplayer, etc.

Best Practices

Composition Tips

Show the player character — Helps players imagine themselves in the game
Include UI when relevant — Communicates genre and complexity
Capture action moments — Static scenes are less engaging
Use varied environments — Show the game's scope
Highlight unique mechanics — What makes your game special?

Technical Quality

Max out graphics settings — Screenshots should show best-case visuals
Hide debug UI — No FPS counters or developer tools
Avoid compression artifacts — Use PNG for best quality
Check aspect ratio — Non-16:9 screenshots get cropped awkwardly

UI in Screenshots

Should you show UI? It depends:

Show UI When:

It helps communicate genre (inventory = RPG, minimap = open world)
It shows important systems (skill trees, crafting, etc.)
The UI is visually polished and appealing

Hide UI When:

Showcasing environments or visuals
UI is placeholder or unpolished
You want a cinematic feel

Mix it up: Include some screenshots with UI and some without. This gives players the full picture.

Localization

If your screenshots contain significant text (like tutorials or story moments), consider creating localized versions for your major markets. Screenshots with English text may underperform in non-English regions.

Animated Screenshots (GIFs)

Steam doesn't support animated screenshots directly, but you can use the "About This Game" section to embed GIFs that showcase movement and action.

Common Mistakes

All combat, no variety — Show different aspects of the game
Empty environments — Scenes should have action or points of interest
Repetitive shots — Each screenshot should show something new
Spoilers — Avoid late-game content or story reveals
Low resolution — Fuzzy screenshots look unprofessional
Debug info visible — Remove all developer UI

Screenshots Ready?

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