A developer recently turned to Reddit seeking advice from fellow game creators, revealing that their title still hasn’t secured approval for Steam release after three years. The problem appears to stem from the game engine they’ve chosen.
For a game to hit Steam, developers must submit their build to Valve for evaluation. Valve states this review typically spans three to five business days, possibly stretching to a week. In stark contrast, the studio’s claim of a three-year wait for approval has sparked considerable discussion within the gaming community.
The developer in question is MOONLIT JOURNEYS, currently crafting AMYGDALA: Prelude, a retro-style horror FPS set in 1990s Australia. In this game, players battle monsters using an assortment of firearms.
On April 30, the studio’s founder Iwannaseetheend posted on the r/gamedev subreddit, noting that despite submitting their game for review, they’ve seen virtually no advancement in the past three years. Although they’ve corresponded with Steam support to provide requested information, responses have been sluggish, occasionally taking months.
Iwannaseetheend reports that their team has adhered to all guidelines, yet the process remains stagnant. They believe the game is ready for launch, but it’s stuck in limbo, with only its Wishlist count steadily climbing. Witnessing other developers release their titles in the interim has left the team increasingly worried that their own game may never see the light of day.
The issue, as the developer explains, is that Steam support indicated they’d need to sign a commercial agreement with Valve to sell AMYGDALA: Prelude. This requirement seems linked to the game’s use of the Source Engine, Valve’s proprietary engine employed in its own titles (such as Half-Life 2) and by some external developers. It’s plausible that using the Source Engine is contributing to the delay, as other developers have noted similar delays specifically with Source Engine projects.
While the precise cause isn’t fully understood, the necessity of completing an additional step—the signing of a commercial agreement, which isn’t typically required for Steam publishing—appears to be a major roadblock. The developer mentions receiving the required documents from Steam support, completing them, and returning them, yet they still await a formal contract. Their direct emails have also yielded no response.
No definitive solution has emerged thus far. Fellow developers suggest persistently following up with support to keep the issue in focus. Some even propose reaching out to Valve president Gabe Newell directly, as his email is public and he occasionally responds. For now, the fate of AMYGDALA: Prelude’s release remains uncertain (though a demo is available). However, developers contemplating the Source Engine for their commercial projects might want to consider this situation before making a final decision.
Mido