Updated at: 03-06-2022 - By: Leo Hall

When it comes to video games, we never really know if we’ll like them until we actually buy and play them. Steam, the world’s most popular digital game reseller, provides a return policy for customers who are not satisfied with their purchases.

Steam will happily refund your money if you have a change of heart about your purchase before you’ve even started playing. The game can be removed from your library for free and your money returned if you make a request.

Because of this, you have a limited amount of time to play a game before you have to give it back. No more than two weeks of ownership and two hours of playtime are acceptable grounds for returning a game. Your request may be turned down if you try to return the game outside of these parameters.

For the two hours of playtime, Steam counts every second the game program is open as playtime. There is a timer running even while the game has been closed or paused, so if you’re on the fence about whether to attempt and fix the game or return it, keep this in mind.

Can I get a Steam refund?

You can get a refund if you ask for it within two weeks of purchasing the game and you haven’t played it for more than two hours. Similarly, bundles are subject to the same rules, except that the total time spent playing each game can’t exceed two hours, and no games in the bundle can be transferred.

Before the game is launched, pre-order purchases can be returned for a refund at any time. If the game is already available, the same guidelines apply: no more than two hours of playtime and within two weeks.

Finally, if the recipient hasn’t redeemed the game you given them, you can get a refund on your Steam purchase. Refunds can be initiated within two hours and two weeks of the purchase date, however the money will be returned to the individual who paid for them.

How to refund a game on Steam

Bad Rats” is a game that I’m going to buy and then return.

The game must be less than two hours long and you must not have owned it for more than 14 days or two weeks. When you select a game from your library in Steam, the time you’ve spent playing it will be displayed in the status bar.

At the top of the Steam app (or the top of your screen on a Mac) there should be a “Help” option. Select “Steam Support” after you’ve selected it.

Steam Support will show you the games you’ve recently bought. As an alternative, click on “Purchases” and choose the product from the page that opens, and then click “Refund.”

In step four, select “I’d like a refund.” Depending on the payment method you used, Steam will either offer to add the game’s worth to your Steam Wallet or refund the purchase.

When seeking a refund, Steam asks you to explain why you’re doing so. Please select a reason from the list provided.

A reference code will be issued and an email will be sent to you with the findings of your refund request from Steam. Steam responded to my refund request in 59 minutes, according to my experience.

The issue with Steam’s refund policy

In terms of refund policies, Valve is unquestionably one of the most generous in the industry. Customers can return games within a set time frame, and for any reason, if they’ve played the game for less than 2 hours.

Many indie developers have been discouraged from continuing to produce games or producing new ones because of this refund policy, much like any other excellent thing in life. A small independent developer like Emika Games falls within this category.

As with many indie games, Summer of ’58 is a short horror game that can be completed in no more than 1.5 hours. The two-hour time limit meant that many players would be able to finish the game and receive their money back.

How the Steam Refund Policy Works for Other Purchases

Refund policies are only applicable to multi-game bundles that have been played less than two hours of each game. You cannot return individual games from a bundle, either; you can only return the entire bundle.

Within 14 days of the purchase and 2 hours of base-game play, DLC purchases can be returned for a refund. Check the DLC store page before purchasing any additional content to see if it falls within this policy.

You can also request a refund for in-game purchases. If you’ve purchased a Valve game and haven’t used it yet, you can get a refund if you’ve waited less than 48 hours. Steam will let you know if you can get a refund for third-party in-game purchases when you make them.

If you buy a Steam key for a game from a third-party merchant, it is not covered by the return policy.

There will be no refunds given to people who have been banned from Steam’s gaming platform because of their use of illegal cheats.

FAQS:

How To Refund a Gift On Steam?

To request a refund for any game purchased on Steam, go to your purchases page and click “Request a Refund.”

How Do You Fulfill Steam Refund Policy?

A refund must be requested within 14 days of purchase and within two hours of playing the game in order to meet Steam’s return policy.

Can You Refund The Difference If The Game You’ve Just Purchased Went On Sale?

That’s not how it works here. The game can be returned and repurchased at a reduced price.

Conclusion:

Even while Valve’s return policy is fairly consumer-friendly, it is evident that for other creators, this is not the case. A change in refund policy to safeguard small studios from being exploited is not certain, but perhaps it will be implemented sooner rather than later.