Valve Updates Steam Refund Policy To Include “Advanced Access”

Valve has announced updates to its Steam refund policy to address pre-ordered games and “advanced access”. Moving forward, gameplay during any advanced access period will count towards the playtime threshold for refunds on the platform.

Prior to this update, only playtime accrued after any sort of “official release” would count towards the two-hour limit for refunds on the platform. That is no longer the case.

“Advanced Access is a feature that allows users that have pre-purchased a game to play prior to the game’s official release,” Valve says. “For example, a “deluxe” pre-purchase version may include Advanced Access.

“Unlike Early Access, Advanced Access is not a unique model of development for a game, it’s simply an opportunity to play a game before it fully releases on Steam.”

Moving forward, the only time the two-hour playtime limit won’t be tracked is during beta testing of games. As far as getting refunds for game’s with advanced access if you pre-order it, Valve says it can be done at any point prior to the start of the access period as opposed to within 14 days of the order.

“When you pre-purchase an Advanced Access version on Steam, you can request a refund at any time prior to the start of Advanced Access,” the company says. “The standard 14-day refund period also applies and will not start until the release date.”

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