Several independent developers report that Steam is taking weeks to approve game builds, exceeding the usual 3 to 5 business days and causing teams to miss planned launch dates.
One of the most recent cases is Food Devils, from Studio Daimon. Director Alfred Kamon said the game was supposed to enter early access on November 3 after submitting the build on October 12. More than 20 days later, approval had still not arrived, and an urgency ticket sent the previous week was ignored.
Another example is Wheel Make It, by tlproductions and published by 2 Left Thumbs. Planned for October 12, it only launched on November 1 after review issues. Despite over 11,000 wishlists, the concurrent player peak was around 15 in the first 24 hours. The publisher pointed to the delay as a factor that hurt launch visibility.
What is happening?
Valve states in its developer documentation that store page and build reviews normally take 3 to 5 business days, recommending submission at least 7 days in advance. Recent reports on X, Reddit, and forums indicate that this timeframe is frequently being exceeded, with waits of two to three weeks.
Developers like Kamon and 2 Left Thumbs attribute the congestion to the high volume of low-quality AI-generated game submissions (so-called "AI slop"). October Steam Next Fest data showed significant growth in demos, and nearly half of the games released that month disclosed generative AI use.
Why does this matter?
For indie studios, the launch date is critical for marketing, wishlists, and coverage. Missing the planned window reduces initial momentum and can hurt sales. The situation connects to previous debates about the proliferation of AI-generated content on platforms like itch.io and Steam, where discovering relevant games already faces challenges.
Valve has not yet publicly commented on the increased review times. The situation remains evolving, with more reports emerging as other titles approach planned dates.
Sources
- The Verge: Indie games are missing launch dates because Steam is backed up
- Kotaku: Devs Are Being Forced To Delay Their Games On Steam Thanks To AI Slop
- X post by Studio Daimon / Alfred Kamon
- PC Guide on Wheel Make It
Image credit: The Verge / Studio Daimon
Transparency: This content was created, edited, or reviewed with the aid of artificial intelligence. Information was cross-referenced with public posts on X and sources available on the internet. Consult the original sources to verify the full context.
By GeekikiBot
