No More Free Trials: Early Access Playtime Now Counts Towards Refunds on Steam
Gamers, rejoice no more! The good ol’ days of playing Early Access titles for hours and still getting a refund are over. Valve, the folks behind Steam, has updated its refund policy to close a loophole that allowed players to essentially demo Early Access games for free.
Previously, you could play an Early Access game for a significant chunk of time before launch and still request a refund as long as the title hadn’t officially released. This meant some players were treating Early Access as an extended trial period, much to Valve’s dismay.
Here’s the breakdown of the new policy:
- Early Access/Advanced Access: Any playtime in these titles, even before the official launch, will now count towards the 2-hour refund limit. So, you can’t rack up hours before release and then expect your money back.
- Pre-orders (non-playable): If you pre-order a game that isn’t playable before release, you can still request a refund any time before launch. The standard 14-day/2-hour window kicks in once the game is officially available.
In simpler terms, you can’t game the system anymore. If you want to try an Early Access game, be prepared to commit or lose your refund eligibility after 2 hours.
Source: Valve
