When browsing through your Steam queue, you will probably at least glance at the developer-provided screenshots on a game's front page. Many times, though, you won't find screenshots, but rather concept art, still shots of empty stages, and pre-rendered shots.
In some cases, this isn't a huge deal, like when a developer decides to put up some promotional art or use art as a placeholder, but in other cases, it can present a deceptive picture of what kind of game you're buying. With that in mind, Valve is now putting its foot down on the matter and no longer allowing non-screenshot images on the Steam Store.
A user on Facepunch provided an update from Steamworks, detailing some new rules on the Steam Store that will soon be implemented. The official update, "Discovery Update 2.0", will not go live for a few weeks to allow developers to update their pages.
The first part of the update adds to Steam's continuing effort to expand user preferences, the Steam queue, the Store search, and other aspects. It is implied that Steam will soon allow users to block certain screenshots that are labeled as inappropriate.
Steam says that certain games - in particular, "Mature" games - can label up to four screenshots as being "suitable for all ages" so that their store page will still be viewable even by users who have elected to not see sexual content or violence in their screenshots.
Other games can also pick "suitable" screenshots. This will guide Steam regarding how to showcase games in certain areas. The update doesn't detail how users will be able to do this and only what developers must do to prepare for it, which is understandable given this was information provided to developers.
The second part goes into the greater screenshot policy on what to put under the screenshot section of your store page. Steam asks that developers only use unedited screenshots for their Store page, and avoid putting up pre-rendered shots, art, or screenshots which have been edited to include awards or text descriptions.
Valve further explains that it plans to show off screenshots in more places, meaning developers must only use accurate images on their pages. It is likely Valve will be somewhat forgiving, though, as it points out that even its own games aren't immune to using images which might break these new rules, such as on the Dota 2 page (which has been updated).
It seems like these rules only apply to screenshots, and not to videos, which will still be allowed to portray cinematics and pre-rendered scenes.
While most pages will probably only have to remove art or promotional images, this will also prevent developers from using deceptive images to market their games on Steam. These shots, often referred to as 'bullshots', include images which appear to be screenshots, but which can't be replicated in-game or which may not exist in the game at all.
No Man's Sky has received a lot of criticism for using pre-rendered set pieces in its promotional screenshots. Even well-received games tend to set up screenshots more like photographs than gameplay shots; most Grand Theft Auto games seem to do this, and even Valve's own Team Fortress 2 isn't immune.
SuperBunnyHop recently created a video addressing the legality of bullshots and similar issues, which, while not directly impacting this Steam update, may help provide some greater context to events.
This comes not too long after Valve explained further changes coming to the curator system and other parts of the Steam Store in another post to developers that we previously covered.
Steam may not be overly strict in enforcing this on store pages which include screenshots that are technically in the game but which are clearly set up specifically for marketing purposes.
What do you think of Steam's new policy? Do you welcome this change? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
