Steam does not appreciate the practices of certain developers with regard to the graphic resources that accompany their game. The platform has therefore decided to introduce new rules which will take effect from September 1, 2022 and which should in the future improve the readability of thumbnails on the platform.
Steam is not very happy and does not seem to appreciate the practices of certain developers regarding the images that accompany certain games on its platform. With a view to having ever clearer game thumbnails, the platform is now announcing the arrival of new rules for its store.
Thumbnails that are too difficult to read
The images accompanying the games will soon no longer be able to contain text that is not directly related to the content of the game. Exit therefore the logos of prizes which have been awarded to it or even of evaluation scores.
The platform criticizes the choice of certain games to add cumbersome additional information to the thumbnail of their game which interferes with the reading of the title to the point of making it difficult. Especially since some of this information may no longer be up to date or in a language that not all users necessarily master.
Restrictions in effect from September 1, 2022
Steam reminds that there are already spaces on the store reserved for quotes, press evaluation scores as well as awards received for each game. The platform therefore felt compelled to clarify the rules regarding thumbnails and to add new ones for its platform. Now, in-game banners will no longer be able to feature:
- evaluation score (Steam or others);
- award name, symbol or logo;
- promotional event announcement (eg sales);
- text or image promoting another product (even for a sequel or other titles of the same franchise);
- text not directly related to the product.
Certain major updates and seasonal events for certain games may however still appear on these thumbnails provided, however, that it is as part of a temporary image replacement and always respecting a certain number of rules. When a sticker includes this kind of information, it must:
- be posted online via the image replacement function for a maximum period of one month;
- translate added text into at least the same number of languages as the game supports;
- describe a major game content update, seasonal event, battle passDLC or other similar new content.
The library also concerned
As for the Steam library, the images there will also be subject to these new rules. Library capsules will now only have to include the game logo and its subtitle if applicable and nothing else. Banner images can only accommodate an illustration and game logos must be offered on a transparent background, without text too.
The capsules of the library must also contain the name or the logo of the game presented in a legible way, with the right dimensions and with content that can be seen by people at least 13 years old.
For games that do not meet all these conditions before the date indicated, they will have their visibility limited in the store and can no longer be highlighted during sales and official platform events.
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