An independent developer has voiced frustration with Steam's refund policy, asserting that its lenient terms allow players to abuse the system. The developer, who goes by Zoroarts and created the game Paddle Paddle Paddle, claims to have refunded approximately 55,000 sales due to players completing the game within the two-hour playtime limit and subsequently requesting refunds.
Mateo Covic, the solo developer behind Paddle Paddle Paddle, explained to GamesRadar+ that while his game boasts a 90 percent positive review rating on Steam, the platform's "no questions asked" refund policy for games played less than two hours within a 14-day period facilitates exploitation. Covic stated that this policy "just makes it super easy for players to abuse this rule."
Covic shared that his game was designed with an intended playtime of around 3.5 hours for the full experience, with the free demo offering about 40 minutes of gameplay. However, he noted that some players, particularly speedrunners and highly skilled gamers, can complete the game in under two hours. This has led to comments such as "Make a Game longer than 2 hours," despite positive reviews.
"I'm 100% pro refund but the current 'no questions asked if you request a refund within two weeks and with less than two hours of playtime' policy just makes it super easy for players to abuse this rule," Covic said. He clarified that his intention was not to eliminate refunds but to address situations where players finish a game, leave a positive review, and then request a refund simply because they can. Covic believes refunds should primarily be for instances where the Steam page was misleading, or the game contained significant issues that prevented enjoyment.
Following his public comments on Twitter, Covic reported experiencing a surge in hateful messages and insults, with Paddle Paddle Paddle subsequently being "review bombed" and its recent review status dropping from "very positive" to "mixed."
Covic expressed that it is difficult to ascertain how many players refund his game for legitimate reasons, as the system allows users to select a refund reason without necessarily providing detailed feedback. He suggested that specific reasons, such as a game being too difficult, would be more helpful if accompanied by a comment explaining the issue.
Some Steam users have pushed back against Covic's claims. One reviewer stated that their refund was not due to completing the game quickly, but rather due to the game being "low effort ragebait streamer trash" with janky movement and a dated aesthetic. This reviewer contrasted Covic's game with others they kept despite playing them for less than two hours, like Kabuto Park, calling his game an "easiest refund of all time."
Game marketing consultant Indie Game Joe offered a different perspective, acknowledging Covic's frustration but suggesting that the refund policy also contributed to Paddle Paddle Paddle's substantial sales figures. Joe argued that the policy is a trade-off that reassures players, enabling them to try games with the knowledge that they can get a refund if unsatisfied. He contended that framing the downside of the policy as Steam's fault was unusual, given the sales volume attributed to its existence. Valve, Steam's parent company, reportedly achieved record revenues in the first half of 2026, driven in part by the significant Chinese market and the return of third-party publishers to its platform.