{"rewrite":{"id":"r_660efbd214a9535c9602412d","clusterId":"c_065d6ed888d6d73b3a329c72","slug":"valve-tightens-steam-review-checklist-as-build-reviews-slip-to-12-days","model":"deepseek-v4-1-flash","headline":"Valve Tightens Steam Review Checklist as Build Reviews Slip to 12 Days","summary":"Valve updated its pre-release review process for Steam developers on November 4, adding checklist items and confirming that build reviews now take up to 12 business days against a normal target of 3 to 5. Games must be launched through Steam for at least five minutes within seven days of application. Valve points to re-reviews as the cause of delays.","whyItMatters":"Valve is trading developer setup work for reviewer throughput, since re-reviews caused by untested Steam builds are what pushed the queue to 12 business days.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eFive minutes of play through Steam is now the floor. Valve requires that a build has been run via Steam by some user within the seven days before a developer applies, a rule that surfaced among developers before the announcement. The checklist also asks for specified common redistributables such as DirectX, Visual C++, .NET, and XNA, or a note that none are needed.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAchievements readiness and Steam Cloud save confirmation join the list, along with five screenshots classified as gameplay. Reviewers also get a reminder that checks store page claims like multiplayer and supported languages against the build. Valve cites re-reviews, not volume, as the reason builds are running to 12 business days.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Valve's five-minute play requirement targets builds that never launched. That puts the delay on developers who skipped a basic check, not on review volume alone.","twitterPost":"Valve's new five-minute play rule assumes some builds never launched. That is a developer-side fix for a backlog Valve says re-reviews caused.","threadsPost":"Valve's checklist now requires launching a build through Steam for at least five minutes within seven days of applying. The 12-day review time is the visible symptom; the checklist is Valve's attempt to cut the re-reviews it blames for the backlog.","newsletterBlurb":"Valve updated its pre-release review process for Steam on November 4, adding checklist requirements including five minutes of play through Steam within seven days of application. Build reviews now take up to 12 business days against a normal target of 3 to 5. Valve cites re-reviews as the cause.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20261104-477286/\",\"title\":\"Amid Outcry Over \\\"Slow Review Times for New Games\\\" on Steam, New Review Process Introduced to \\\"Increase First-Time Passes\\\"; Basic Checks Such as \\\"Play for at Least 5 Minutes First\\\" Made Mandatory\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":5551,"outputTokens":694,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1793758802,"createdAt":"2026-11-04T02:15:16.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-11-04T02:18:55.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-11-04T02:18:55.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_065d6ed888d6d73b3a329c72","canonicalTitle":"Steamにて「新作ゲームの審査が遅い」と悲鳴続出するなか、“1発合格を増やす”新審査プロセス導入。「まず5分はプレイして」など初歩的チェックが義務化","representativeArticleId":"a_ff62d271280699dc3d713c1a","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":1,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[\"Valve\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-11-04T01:13:23.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-11-04T01:13:23.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-11-04T02:18:53.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20261104-477286/","title":"Steamにて「新作ゲームの審査が遅い」と悲鳴続出するなか、“1発合格を増やす”新審査プロセス導入。「まず5分はプレイして」など初歩的チェックが義務化"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":["Valve"],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Valve announced the Steam review process update on November 4.","Build reviews now take up to 12 business days, against a normal target of 3 to 5 days.","Developers must run a game via Steam for at least five minutes within seven days before applying.","The checklist requires five screenshots classified as gameplay and confirmation of common redistributable components.","Japanese Ramen Simulator was postponed from September 28 to October 9 after a re-review."],"pageLinks":{"healthSlugs":["valve"],"storySlugs":[],"entities":[{"slug":"valve","supported":2,"disputed":0,"contradicted":0,"unverified":36,"overall":"green","story_count":46,"has_dossier":true}],"stories":[],"entitiesOk":true,"storiesOk":true}}