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Steam launch discount and discount rules

, founder of NextWishlist · Updated · 3 min read

40%maximum launch discount, 7 to 14 daysValve rule
30 daysbetween two discounts, except seasonal salesValve rule
20%or more over 8 hours emails your wishlistersValve rule
On this page
  1. The launch discount
  2. Discounts after launch
  3. Seasonal sales: the exception
  4. Which discounts email your wishlisters
  5. Steam's deal slots
  6. A discount plan that follows the rules
  7. A first-year discount plan, as an example

Short answerYour launch discount can be up to 40%, for 7 to 14 days; after that you need 30 days between discounts, except during Steam's seasonal sales. Only discounts of 20% or more lasting over 8 hours email your wishlisters.

Steam's discount rules are strict, and some choices at launch block others for a month. Here is what Valve allows, which discounts reach your wishlisters, and how Steam's deal slots work.

01The launch discount

  • Up to 40%, for 7 to 14 days from release, ending at 10 AM Pacific.
  • Valve suggests about 10% to 15%.
  • No other discount in the first 30 days after release, Early Access included.
  • No price increase in the first 30 days.

02Discounts after launch

  • A discount runs from 10% to 95%, for 1 to 14 days.
  • 30 days between two discounts.
  • A price increase, in any currency, blocks discounts for 30 days. A price decrease doesn't.
  • You can't change your base price during a discount.
  • A custom discount can be scheduled to start the next day, and edited or deleted until it starts.

03Seasonal sales: the exception

Steam runs four seasonal sales a year. They don't have the 30-day gap between discounts, so you can join one right after another discount. They don't lift the 30 days after release or after a price increase, though.

Dates of the next sales and themed fests: Steam festivals.

04Which discounts email your wishlisters

A discount of 20% or more, lasting more than 8 hours, emails your wishlisters. A 15% discount doesn't. Your launch, in Early Access or 1.0, notifies every wishlister too.

That makes your first real discount a second launch: plan it with a festival, an update or a seasonal sale. How many of those wishlisters buy: Steam wishlists to sales.

05Steam's deal slots

  • Weeklong Deals: start every Monday at 10 AM Pacific and run 7 days.
  • Daily Deal: featured for 24 hours, at least two slots a day; the discount itself runs 7 to 14 days.
  • Midweek Deals: featured 72 hours, Monday to Thursday, up to six slots a week.
  • Weekend Deals: featured 96 hours, Thursday to Monday, up to six slots a week.
  • These curated slots are generally limited to once a calendar year per game, with at least three months between them.

06A discount plan that follows the rules

NextWishlist checks every discount in your plan against Valve's rules and places them on Steam's calendar, so none of them blocks another. Join the private beta.

07A first-year discount plan, as an example

Putting Valve's rules together, a typical first year looks like this:

  1. Launch discountup to 40%, 7 to 14 days
  2. Lockedno price change for 30 days after release, no new discount for 30 days after the launch discount ends
  3. Seasonal saleexempt from the 30-day gap
  4. Your own discount30 days after the previous one; 20%+ over 8 h emails wishlisters
A first year that follows Valve's discount rules (Steamworks, read Oct 28, 2026).
  1. Launch: a launch discount of 10% to 40% for 7 to 14 days. At 20% or more over 8 hours, it emails your wishlisters.
  2. Days 1 to 30: no other discount and no price change.
  3. Next: join Steam's seasonal sales (exempt from the 30-day gap) and themed fests that match your genre (Steam festivals).
  4. Between them: your own discounts, 30 days apart, at 20% or more when you want the wishlist email.
  5. With an update: a discount timed with a content update gives players two reasons to come back.

Plan the year before launch: a discount taken in the wrong week can block a better one a month later. The full launch sequence: Steam launch checklist.

Steam launch discount and discount rules: quick answers

What is the maximum Steam launch discount?

40%, for 7 to 14 days from release. Valve suggests about 10% to 15%.

Can I discount my game in the first 30 days on Steam?

Only with the launch discount. Valve allows no other discount and no price increase in the first 30 days after release, Early Access included.

Does a Steam discount notify wishlisters?

Yes, when it's 20% or more and lasts more than 8 hours. A 15% discount doesn't send the email.

How often can I discount my game on Steam?

You need 30 days between two discounts. Steam's four seasonal sales a year are exempt from that gap.

How long does a Steam Daily Deal last?

It's featured for 24 hours, but the discount itself runs 7 to 14 days. Curated slots like Daily Deals are generally limited to once a calendar year per game.

Sources

Valve's rules can change: the official Steamworks page always wins. Practitioner benchmarks are surveys of developers, given as ranges.

NextWishlist

Every Steam deadline, in your plan.

Next Fest, themed fests, sales and discount rules placed on your calendar, with what each event brought to your wishlists. NextWishlist is a Steam marketing tool for indie developers, in private beta.

Join the private beta