Valve has expanded Steam's pre-release checklist after increased submissions and repeated reviews stretched its queue. In the 3 November 2026 UTC announcement, it reports game-build reviews taking up to 12 business days. That is a current workload warning, not a promised approval time.
Test the Steam-installed experience
The checklist requires five minutes of play launched through Steam, rather than only running an executable directly. Any user's playtime counts, but it must be within the past seven days, or since the last build if that upload is older. Recording the session can take a few minutes after exit.
Developers must identify required shared redistributables, or confirm none are needed. Additional checks flag incomplete achievement setup. If Steam Cloud is advertised, a partner-group member must write a save to Cloud; leaving sync in developer mode also needs attention.
Check what the store promises
Steam now supports correctly categorized menu, concept-art and cinematic images alongside at least five gameplay screenshots. Marketing text in screenshots remains prohibited. Submission reminders also depend on advertised features, including languages and multiplayer access.
The public review documentation still describes typical three-to-five-business-day reviews and recommends allowing at least seven. Its screenshot wording also predates the announced categories; Valve says documentation updates are coming. Use the dated announcement and your current app checklist for the new requirements.
Planning takeaway: allow extra time for review and fixes before committing to a launch campaign. Compare the installed build, supported features and content disclosures against the store page. Completing a checklist does not guarantee approval or a particular release date.
Original sources
- Valve — Updates to the Pre-Release Review Process, 3 November 2026 UTC
- Steamworks — Review Process documentation
Release plans and availability can change. Check the original source for the latest information.