Approximately 8 years ago, Steam introduced a mechanism for refunding purchased games. This was useful in cases where the game turned out to be less interesting than it seemed, or the computer did not provide a comfortable level of performance. To take advantage of the refund, you had to spend no more than 2 hours in the game and submit a refund request within 14 days of purchase.
Over time, Valve launched early access mechanisms for games. The "Early Access" and "Extended Access" programs allowed players to play games even before the official release - even in test versions. And this created a certain loophole for players. People could play for many hours before the release, and then still demand a refund after the game was released.
Now Valve has closed this loophole. Currently, the time spent in the game within the "Early Access" and "Extended Access" programs is also taken into account when determining the 2-hour limit for refunds. The corresponding changes are specified in the updated refund policy:
"REFUND FOR PRODUCTS PURCHASED BEFORE THE RELEASE DATE: Usually, if you purchase a product in Steam before the release date, there will be a two-hour time limit for refunds, but the 14-day period will not start before the release date. For example, if you buy a game in early access or priority access, any game time counts towards the two-hour refund limit. If you pre-purchased a game that cannot be launched before the release date, you can request a refund at any time before its release, and the standard 14-day/two-hour refund period will apply from the moment the game is released."
Previously, the relevant rule was significantly shorter:
"REFUND FOR PREVIOUS PURCHASE: If you purchase a product on Steam before the release date (and pay for it in advance), you can request a refund at any time before the release of this product. The standard 14-day/two-hour refund period also applies, starting from the game's release date."
Source: The Verge
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