BELLEVUE, Wash. - Valve’s pre-release game build reviews on Steam are taking up to 12 business days instead of the usual three to five, forcing independent studios to miss planned launch dates. On November 14, 2026, publisher Mystic Forge confirmed delayed title Australia Did It finally cleared review for a November 17 release.
What happened?
In a November 3 Steamworks update, Valve attributed the slowdown to a surge in store-page and build submissions alongside a high volume of re-reviews for builds failing initial checks. Aesthetician Labs submitted Australia Did It on October 20 and fixed a controller issue on November 5, yet missed its November 10 launch. Studio Daimon’s Food Devils and TwoMenGames’ Amazing Slot Survivor also postponed November launches while awaiting clearance.
Why does it matter?
The bottleneck disrupts indie release planning and raises frustration over Steam’s 30 percent revenue cut. While some developers blamed AI-generated submissions for clogging the queue, Valve cited only higher submission volumes and re-reviews. Developer Rami Ismail warned that if Steam loses "the agility and access for developers to launch with minimal friction," studios will have to treat PC launches more like console releases.
What happens next?
To cut down on repeat reviews, Valve now requires developers to launch and play their builds through Steam for at least five minutes within seven days before submission, alongside stricter checks for redistributables, achievements, and Steam Cloud saves. Valve stated additional improvements to the review pipeline are forthcoming.
