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Steam Playtest: how it works and when to use it

, founder of NextWishlist · Updated · 3 min read

Freealways: Playtest access can't be soldValve rule
Wavesadmit players in batches, or open it to allValve rule
Separatedata, wishlists and reviews from your gameValve rule
On this page
  1. How Steam Playtest works
  2. Keys and friend invites
  3. Rules to know before you start
  4. Playtest or demo?
  5. Plan your tests around Valve's calendar

Short answerSteam Playtest is a free, separate app linked to your game: players request access from your store page and you admit them in waves, or let everyone in. Use it for betas and server tests; use a demo for marketing, since only a demo notifies wishlisters and joins Next Fest.

Steam Playtest lets players ask for access to your unreleased game from your store page, and lets you admit them in waves. It's Valve's official tool for betas and stress tests. Here is how it works, from Valve's documentation, and when it's the right tool rather than a demo.

01How Steam Playtest works

  • A Playtest is a separate app linked to your game: its data, wishlists, reviews, refunds and achievements stay apart from your game's.
  • It has no store page: players request access with a button on your game's store page.
  • Limited (the default): players request access and you admit them in batches; Steam picks at random among those who asked. Open: everyone who asks gets in.
  • You can admit players by country, to match your server capacity and latency.
  • Players get an email from Steam when they're added. Steam doesn't email them when the Playtest becomes playable again: use Steam events and announcements for that.

02Keys and friend invites

  • You can hand out Playtest keys, even before your store page is live, and in larger quantities than the 2,500 pre-release keys allowed for your game. Beyond about 50,000 keys, Valve considers the Playtest an open beta and suggests opening sign-ups.
  • Friend invites (experimental): each player can invite 1, 2 or 3 friends, who can invite others, and only friends of at least 30 days. You can pause invites at any time.

03Rules to know before you start

  • Always free: you can't charge for access, sell keys or monetize the Playtest.
  • Not confidential: playtesters are under no NDA. For a confidential test, use a hidden Playtest with keys, or your main app with pre-release keys, and your own sign-up process.
  • Announce your game first: Valve's most common use is before release, once your Coming Soon page is collecting wishlists.
  • Ending it: turn off sign-ups, then set it to Not Playable. A reset removes every participant and disables every key, and can't be undone.

04Playtest or demo?

They do different jobs. Valve built Playtest to replace workarounds such as a "demo" that was really an open beta; it doesn't compare the two further, so here is how the rules play out:

  • Choose a Playtest to test servers or multiplayer, to collect feedback from a limited group, or to let a build change every week without it being judged as your showcase.
  • Choose a demo to market the game: only a demo can notify your wishlisters, appear in Steam Next Fest and the themed fests, and show up wherever free games do.
  • Many games do both: a Playtest early to fix the game, then a polished demo for the festivals (when to release your Steam demo).

05Plan your tests around Valve's calendar

NextWishlist places your playtests, your demo and Valve's deadlines in one plan, and reminds you to announce each wave to your followers. Join the private beta.

Steam Playtest: quick answers

How does Steam Playtest work?

It's a separate app linked to your game. Players request access from your store page; you admit them in batches (Limited) or let everyone in (Open). Steam emails players when they're added.

Is Steam Playtest free?

Yes, always: Valve forbids charging for access, selling Playtest keys or monetizing a Playtest.

Steam Playtest or demo: which one?

A Playtest suits server tests and feedback from a limited group. A demo is the marketing tool: only a demo notifies your wishlisters and can join Steam Next Fest and the themed fests.

Is a Steam Playtest confidential?

No. Playtesters are under no NDA. For a confidential test, use a hidden Playtest with keys, or your main app with pre-release keys.

Do Playtest wishlists count for my game?

A Playtest's data, wishlists and reviews are kept apart from your main game's.

Sources

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

NextWishlist

Know when your demo is ready, and who it reaches.

Your demo's players and reviews read every night and compared with demos of your genre, with Valve's deadlines in your daily plan. NextWishlist is a Steam marketing tool for indie developers, in private beta.

Join the private beta