Steam has rolled out a new feature that notifies users when an Early Access game has gone without updates for a long period. The goal of this change is to provide players with more clarity on whether a game they’re following has been abandoned by its creators.
If a game goes without an update for a year, Steam now shows a notification on its store page to inform buyers or current players that the information might no longer be up to date.
Before this feature, players didn’t have much information on the status of Early Access games. Many titles remained in development limbo for years, often with little or no updates. In some cases, developers disappeared entirely, leaving their games unfinished and players frustrated.
The updated system helps users spot games that are probably abandoned, giving them a chance to think twice before buying.
For example, when players view the store page for certain Early Access titles, they will now see a note indicating how long it’s been since the last update, which appears after 12 months of inactivity. However, it does have some flaws.
The main issue is the lack of clarity on what counts as an "update" in Steam’s system. Some games might still show as inactive even if they got minor updates or tweaks not shown on the store page. This might lead to a misunderstanding, with games that are still being worked on, but with fewer major updates, possibly seen as abandoned.
On top of that, some games with long gaps between updates now receive a warning, while others, like Kerbal Space Program 2, haven't been flagged, even though they've had long stretches without updates.
The positive takeaway here is that this update is pushing for more transparency between developers and players. This is particularly important for indie games where developers often work with limited resources and might need more time to refine their product.
Sure, it has its upsides, but some players think it could use some work. They argue that games in active development, despite not receiving updates in over a year, should not automatically be flagged as abandoned.
Games that are in slow or episodic development may still be in progress, so the warning system might need to mention that the game’s actively being worked on, even if major updates are few and far between.
Even so, this feature is a win for Steam, giving players more visibility and helping them make better choices.