There have been many strong feelings about season passes and microtransactions since they started showing up in modern gaming, with lots of gamers seeing the slow content release as just another way for developers and publishers to make money. Now, Valve is taking steps to change how game companies can offer season passes on Steam.
Promising Future Content
When you buy a Season Pass, you are making a promise for upcoming content. During the launch of a Season Pass, you will need to set a schedule for when each piece of content will be released. This schedule is a promise to both Steam and the players.
Valve’s Concerns
Valve has two main issues with season passes: timing and clear communication. Under the new rules, any season pass sold on Steam must reveal what players can expect when the new content is released. Furthermore, if publishers don't deliver the season pass on schedule — or within three months after Valve's deadline — Valve will refund players through Steam.
When a Season Pass is available for sale on Steam, it needs to have the following details:
Game publishers and developers can postpone promised season pass content, but they must inform Valve in advance and notify their customers about the delay. This three-month buffer is meant to help with common development issues that happen in gaming these days.
Additional Guidelines
Another important point in the new season pass rules is that any season pass offered on Steam must come with at least one DLC that is already available at the time of buying, although pre-purchase season passes are excluded from this requirement for obvious reasons.
It's hard to say how these new regulations will change the gaming world, but they aim to create a fairer environment for gamers and consumers, even though the allowances for pre-purchase season passes might lead to more of those being offered.
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