Steam Now Warns Players If Early Access Games Aren't Updated For Over A Year

Steam now issues a warning to players if an early access game hasn't been updated for over a year.

While it's unclear when this specific update launched, SteamDB — a third-party database that tracks everything relating to Valve's platform — recently spotted the change on Bluesky. Speaking to UploadVR, Valve confirmed this will be applied after 12 months since an update or “an 'update' type event” to tell players about it. One example we've seen is a 12 months label for Escape The Backrooms, the 2022 horror game that's since removed VR support.

From there, the warning appears to go up on a monthly basis. For example, Build and Drive Racing states it's not been updated for 15 months, Phantom Matrix lists 18 months, while Ashen Arrows and Paranormal Hunter state 19 and 20 months respectively. Other SteamVR Early Access games like H3VR, Ghosts of Tabor, Sword Reverie, Bootstrap Island and Strayed don't show any warnings.

Detailing its notice criteria further, Valve informed UploadVR the following thresholds apply for adding such a notice:

• It has been more than 12 months since a build has been assigned to the 'default' branch in Steamworks.
• It has been more than 12 months since the developer has posted an 'update' type event, communicating to players about the update (This includes all three 'update' type events: Major Update, Regular Update, or Patch Notes)

It's the latest development we've seen from the Steam Early Access program, which Valve began in 2013. Presently, each EA game requires developers to fill out an FAQ stating why it chose EA, how long they anticipate a game to be in EA, how the full release is planned to differ, and more. This new addition should make it easier for players to determine whether a game remains supported.