Steam Rules Must Change, Developer Says, After Players Praise Bitesize Game But Are Allowed to Refund It Anyway
Zoroarts, developer of indie game Paddle Paddle Paddle, has called for Steam to change its refund policy after players were able to receive full refunds despite completing the game and leaving positive reviews.
Under Steam’s current policy, any game played for less than two hours can be refunded within 14 days of purchase. While this system is intended to protect players during their initial experience with a game, it creates problems for developers of shorter, “bitesize” games that players can complete well within the two-hour window.
The issue highlights a gap between Steam’s refund policy and the realities of indie game development. Players who genuinely enjoyed Paddle Paddle Paddle and left glowing reviews were still eligible for full refunds, meaning developers receive no compensation for a completed game experience. Zoroarts argues this policy unfairly penalizes developers creating smaller experiences, stating on social media that “this should not be possible.”
The complaint underscores an ongoing tension on digital storefronts: while player-friendly policies are valuable for consumer protection, they may inadvertently harm creators of shorter games who invest significant effort in crafting compact, polished experiences.