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Steam review process

Also called: Valve review, Steam build review, Store page review, Pre-release review

The Steam review process is Valve's check of a game's store page and build before launch, each typically taking 3 to 5 business days.

3-5 days: Typical Valve review of a store page or build

Before a game can release on Steam, Valve reviews the store page and the build. The Steamworks review page says each review typically takes 3 to 5 business days and asks studios to plan for at least 7 business days (Steamworks documentation, partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/review_process, accessed 28 Oct 2026). The store page must also sit in Coming Soon for at least 2 weeks, and an approved game does not release until the studio presses Release App (partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/releasing, same date).

Real waits can run longer. In a 2025 Steam Community thread, one developer reported a build review that took 20 business days, and another quoted support advice to plan around failing the build review at least once (Steam Community, "Build review has taken weeks, can't push back release", accessed 28 Oct 2026).

The build check is basic. Valve asks that the product starts properly and that every feature listed on the store page is in the build. It does not replace QA, so the safer plan freezes the review build early, tests that exact build ID and leaves a week of slack for a second review round.

Updated · Written by , founder of Jumbo Jelly.

Where to read more

  • Build ID

    A Steam build ID is the global number Steam assigns to each uploaded build of a game, used to tell builds apart and to set one live on a branch.

  • Steam Next Fest

    Steam Next Fest is a weeklong Steam event, held three times a year, where unreleased games offer public demos to players, press and streamers.

  • Smoke test

    A smoke test is a short check that a new build starts, loads and runs its main loop, done before deeper testing so nobody wastes hours on a broken build.

  • Steam Early Access

    Steam Early Access lets a studio sell a playable but unfinished game on Steam while development continues, with the store page saying so.

All glossary terms