'This Should Not Be Possible': Developer Calls for Steam Refund Policy to Change, After Fans Complete Bitesize Game in Under 2 Hours, Leave Great Reviews
A developer is calling for changes to Steam's refund policy after a loophole allowed players to finish and review a game before requesting refunds.
📍 How it ended
The developer of Paddle Paddle Paddle called for Valve to fix Steam's refund policy after over 55,000 players refunded the short game. Players reportedly completed the game in under two hours and left positive reviews while seeking refunds.
The story quieted without a definitive conclusion in the coverage.
Epilogue added 19d ago, after coverage quieted.
Quick answers
What game is affected by this refund loophole?
The indie co-op game 'Paddle Paddle Paddle'.
How many times has the game been refunded?
According to Kotaku, the game has been refunded 55,000 times.
Why are players able to refund the game after completion?
The game is short enough to be completed in under two hours, allowing players to finish it and leave reviews before triggering a refund.
The brief
The indie game 'Paddle Paddle Paddle' has become a co-op hit on Steam. However, because the game is 'bitesize' and can be completed in under two hours, players are finishing the experience, leaving positive reviews, and then utilizing a refund loophole.
Coverage from Kotaku and IGN reports that the game has been refunded 55,000 times. Mein-MMO emphasizes that while the title is popular, this loophole is causing the developer to miss out on significant revenue.
The developer is now calling for Steam to modify its refund policy to address this issue.
Synthesized by Archynetys from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 22d ago.
Coverage (9)
- Paddle Paddle Paddle Has Good Reviews and Massive Refunds games.gg · 22d ago
- An indie game was refunded 55,000 times Windows Central · 22d ago
- Dev tells Valve to fix Steam's exploitable 2-hour refund policy as "over 55,000" players refund his short g... Yahoo Tech · 22d ago
- Indie dev asks Steam to review return policy after players beat the game and get refunds Niche Gamer · 22d ago
- Dev tells Valve to fix Steam's exploitable 2-hour refund policy as "over 55,000" players refund his short game and even brag about it in reviews GamesRadar+ · 22d ago
- Paddle Paddle Paddle IGN Nordic · 22d ago
- Indie Dev Says Game Refunded 55,000 Times Via Steam Loophole Kotaku · 22d ago
- Players love a co-op hit on Steam, but a loophole is causing the developer to miss out on a fortune Mein-MMO · 22d ago
- 'This Should Not Be Possible': Developer Calls for Steam Refund Policy to Change, After Fans Complete Bitesize Game in Under 2 Hours, Leave Great Reviews IGN · 22d ago
The coverage curve
How fast coverage is spreading — measured hourly from article rate × source diversity. How this works →
Topics
From around our network
Related trends
User-made maps from Steam top-seller Meccha Chameleon have been found to contain malware, just as the game's official Discord server got hacked
Steam top-seller Meccha Chameleon faces a security crisis as malware-infected user maps coincide with a hack of the game's official Discord server.
‘Palworld’ Could Become The Next No Man’s Sky If It Stays On Track
Palworld is seeing a massive resurgence following its 1.0 launch, drawing comparisons to the trajectory of No Man's Sky.
Xbox Game Pass members get three free games to play this weekend
Xbox Game Pass subscribers gain access to new titles as the platform rotates its catalog through late July.
Steam wishlists are getting categories, making it even easier to organise all those games you'll definitely buy next sale
Valve has introduced significant updates to Steam, including custom wishlist categories, cross-region gifting, and guest checkout options.
New Langrisser: Sea of Sword Trailer Provides First Look at Gameplay
A new trailer for Langrisser: Sea of Sword has provided the first look at gameplay for the upcoming title.
Steam Deck sales are losing steam since May's price hike
9 news sources are covering this Technology story right now — Archynetys is tracking how fast it spreads.