Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Many Indie Devs are worried about steams 2 hour return policy. Some believe it is being abused in great numbers, enough to cause indie developers to not be able to make a living. So I did many hours of research to figure out how big the issue is, as well as if it could ever be changed.
If you would like to learn to code, I recommend these great online courses! (It's what I'm using.)
Learn Python from Zero To Mastery: academy.zerotomastery.io/a/aff_yp0m7fjx/external?affcode=441520_hdkh55qo
Learn Java from Zero To Mastery: academy.zerotomastery.io/a/aff_qdttm1hx/external?affcode=441520_hdkh55qo
Learn Unity 3D Game development: academy.zerotomastery.io/a/aff_yw8sccds/external?affcode=441520_hdkh55qo
Contact and Social Media:
Email: artindigames@gmail.com
Discord: discord.gg/EHDTdkN
Twitter(x): twitter.com/TheArtindi
itch.io: artindi.itch.io
00:00 - Summer of '58 Outcry and Steam Return Policy
01:27 - Why Steam Won't Change
01:50 - Proactive vs Reactive Systems
02:19 - Why Reactive Won't Work
02:56 - Why Proactive Won't Work (The Math)
04:01 - Elective Refunds
04:34 - Maybe Lord Gaben
04:48 - The Only Way Steam Would Change
05:24 - Miziziziz's Solution
06:12 - Return Abuse is Not Common
06:29 - Games are Not Pizza
06:55 - Take Responsibility
Music from Uppbeat:
"Catch My Breath" by Ambient Boy
License code: SPMY1DM2EXK4IBCP
If you care, here are sources as seen in small clips throughout the video:
Steams policy: store.steampowered.com/steam_refunds
Epic Games policy: epicgames.com/site/en-US/store-refund-policy
GOG return policy: support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011314978-How-do-I-refund-a-game-?product=gog
Itch.io retund policy: itch.io/docs/legal/terms#9-refunds
Original "Summer of '58" Tweet: twitter.com/EmikaGames/status/1430941640001265673
Link to the game: store.steampowered.com/app/1609080/Summer_of_58
Regarding "Summer of '58" Outcry:
Kotaku article on "summer of '58" dev's tweet: kotaku.com/steams-two-hour-refund-policy-forces-horror-developer-i-1847568067
Euro Gamer Article on "summer of '58" dev's tweet: eurogamer.net/steams-two-hour-refund-policy-leads-to-indie-developer-quitting-game-development
Fanbyte article on "summer of '58" dev's tweet: fanbyte.com/news/steams-two-hour-refund-policy-continues-to-hurt-developers-of-small-games
Reddit discussion on the subject: reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/pct7mg/steams_2_hour_refund_policy
Number of games release each day:
Steam Spy: steamspy.com/year
Game World Observer Article: gameworldobserver.com/2022/01/24/more-than-11k-games-released-on-steam-in-2021-with-30-titles-coming-out-daily#:~:text=Evgeny%20Obedkov-,More%20than%2011k%20games%20released%20on%20Steam%20in%202021,30%20titles%20coming%20out%20daily
How much does a game make on Steam?
VG Insights: vginsights.com/insights/article/infographic-indie-game-revenues-on-steam
Into Indie Games article: intoindiegames.com/how-much-money-do-steam-games-make
Games Industry article: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/mike-rose-indie-developers-are-pricing-their-steam-games-too-low
Ars Technica article: arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/04/ars-analysis-80-of-steam-games-earn-under-5k-in-first-two-weeks
Finances Online statistics: financesonline.com/steam-statistics
What is the typical Steam return rate?
Game Developer article debunking "Summer of '58" return rate: gamedeveloper.com/business/analysis-what-s-with-steam-refunds-and-short-games-
Game World Observer mini article: gameworldobserver.com/2020/10/14/simon-carless-refund-rate-significant-metric#:~:text=In%20the%20latest%20entry%20to,be%20as%20high%20as%2020%25.
Reddit discussion of Acceptable return rates on Steam: reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/905re1/what_are_acceptable_steam_refund_rates
Game Industry Article: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/steam-refunds-not-harming-sales-slitherine
Miziziziz Video: youtube.com/watch?v=u_msFFKlrMY
Other random stuff:
Tweet showing positive review + return: twitter.com/OctaviNavarro/status/1552941109294383104
Tweet showing poll of who would return a short game:
twitter.com/Quthulhu/status/1552922383882895360
Game that wouldn't work on my laptop: store.steampowered.com/app/387990/Scrap_Mechanic
Many Indie Devs are worried about steams 2 hour return policy. Some believe it is being abused in great numbers, enough to cause indie developers to not be able to make a living. So I did many hours of research to figure out how big the issue is, as well as if it could ever be changed.
If you would like to learn to code, I recommend these great online courses! (It's what I'm using.)
Learn Python from Zero To Mastery: academy.zerotomastery.io/a/aff_yp0m7fjx/external?affcode=441520_hdkh55qo
Learn Java from Zero To Mastery: academy.zerotomastery.io/a/aff_qdttm1hx/external?affcode=441520_hdkh55qo
Learn Unity 3D Game development: academy.zerotomastery.io/a/aff_yw8sccds/external?affcode=441520_hdkh55qo
Contact and Social Media:
Email: artindigames@gmail.com
Discord: discord.gg/EHDTdkN
Twitter(x): twitter.com/TheArtindi
itch.io: artindi.itch.io
00:00 - Summer of '58 Outcry and Steam Return Policy
01:27 - Why Steam Won't Change
01:50 - Proactive vs Reactive Systems
02:19 - Why Reactive Won't Work
02:56 - Why Proactive Won't Work (The Math)
04:01 - Elective Refunds
04:34 - Maybe Lord Gaben
04:48 - The Only Way Steam Would Change
05:24 - Miziziziz's Solution
06:12 - Return Abuse is Not Common
06:29 - Games are Not Pizza
06:55 - Take Responsibility
Music from Uppbeat:
"Catch My Breath" by Ambient Boy
License code: SPMY1DM2EXK4IBCP
If you care, here are sources as seen in small clips throughout the video:
Steams policy: store.steampowered.com/steam_refunds
Epic Games policy: epicgames.com/site/en-US/store-refund-policy
GOG return policy: support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011314978-How-do-I-refund-a-game-?product=gog
Itch.io retund policy: itch.io/docs/legal/terms#9-refunds
Original "Summer of '58" Tweet: twitter.com/EmikaGames/status/1430941640001265673
Link to the game: store.steampowered.com/app/1609080/Summer_of_58
Regarding "Summer of '58" Outcry:
Kotaku article on "summer of '58" dev's tweet: kotaku.com/steams-two-hour-refund-policy-forces-horror-developer-i-1847568067
Euro Gamer Article on "summer of '58" dev's tweet: eurogamer.net/steams-two-hour-refund-policy-leads-to-indie-developer-quitting-game-development
Fanbyte article on "summer of '58" dev's tweet: fanbyte.com/news/steams-two-hour-refund-policy-continues-to-hurt-developers-of-small-games
Reddit discussion on the subject: reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/pct7mg/steams_2_hour_refund_policy
Number of games release each day:
Steam Spy: steamspy.com/year
Game World Observer Article: gameworldobserver.com/2022/01/24/more-than-11k-games-released-on-steam-in-2021-with-30-titles-coming-out-daily#:~:text=Evgeny%20Obedkov-,More%20than%2011k%20games%20released%20on%20Steam%20in%202021,30%20titles%20coming%20out%20daily
How much does a game make on Steam?
VG Insights: vginsights.com/insights/article/infographic-indie-game-revenues-on-steam
Into Indie Games article: intoindiegames.com/how-much-money-do-steam-games-make
Games Industry article: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/mike-rose-indie-developers-are-pricing-their-steam-games-too-low
Ars Technica article: arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/04/ars-analysis-80-of-steam-games-earn-under-5k-in-first-two-weeks
Finances Online statistics: financesonline.com/steam-statistics
What is the typical Steam return rate?
Game Developer article debunking "Summer of '58" return rate: gamedeveloper.com/business/analysis-what-s-with-steam-refunds-and-short-games-
Game World Observer mini article: gameworldobserver.com/2020/10/14/simon-carless-refund-rate-significant-metric#:~:text=In%20the%20latest%20entry%20to,be%20as%20high%20as%2020%25.
Reddit discussion of Acceptable return rates on Steam: reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/905re1/what_are_acceptable_steam_refund_rates
Game Industry Article: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/steam-refunds-not-harming-sales-slitherine
Miziziziz Video: youtube.com/watch?v=u_msFFKlrMY
Other random stuff:
Tweet showing positive review + return: twitter.com/OctaviNavarro/status/1552941109294383104
Tweet showing poll of who would return a short game:
twitter.com/Quthulhu/status/1552922383882895360
Game that wouldn't work on my laptop: store.steampowered.com/app/387990/Scrap_Mechanic
