New Steam UI Feature Adds Warning On Early Access Games That Haven't Been Updated

Valve recently released a new Steam client update that added a new UI feature to store pages and provide players with information on specific Early Access games. This isn't the first time Valve implemented changes to the Steam client UI as last year, they provided full disclosure to players on content included in Season Passes and expansions (DLCs) and their release dates to promote transparency between players, developers, and studios.

This latest update issues a warning to players before purchasing or investing time in the game on its store page on the length of its last game or developer update. This new UI feature intends to promote transparency to players and provide developers and studios opportunities to explain to players the reasons behind the lack of game updates.

SteamDB spotted this new UI feature in a post on Bluesky, for which Valve intends to clarify specific Steam Early Access games by adding a visible warning on their store pages. This latest update for the Steam client will include a note below the Early Access notice, highlighting the date of the last game update and whether the developer has provided follow-up information on the update's delay.

According to Eurogamer, this is being reported to apply to Early Access games that haven't received updates 12 months following their Early Access release, which will update monthly. Valve has yet to publicly release an official statement about this new UI change, a practice they have frequently done in the past, like the Game Update settings for the Steam client, Game Recording, and Steam VR support optimizations.

The Steam Early Access program allows developers and studios to continue developing their games and provide "ongoing support" through updates as they work towards a full release on PC and other platforms. This program has proven successful in past years for games like Baldur's Gate 3, Subnautica, Phasmophobia, Hades, and its sequel, Hades 2, which is currently in Early Access.