All templates

6 to 8 weeks · 4 milestones · 19 tasks

Steam Page Launch

Steam Direct onboarding, every required asset at its documented size, the review round trip, and the first wishlist push.

Wishlists only start once the page is public, and Steam requires a Coming Soon page to be live for at least two weeks before release. Most first-time Steam developers lose a week to the asset list, so every size here is written down, taken from the Steamworks documentation.

Best when: The moment you have gameplay worth showing, ideally months before release.

Use this template in Questlog

M1Steam Direct onboarding

Week 1 · 3 tasks
  1. Sign the Steam Distribution Agreement and pay the USD 100 app feeOtherurgent

    One fee per app, not refundable. It is recouped from your payouts once the app reaches USD 1,000 in adjusted gross revenue. Steamworks: Steam Direct fee

  2. Complete identity verification, the tax questionnaire and bank detailsOtherurgent

    Tax information is verified by a third party and can take up to 30 days. The bank account holder name must match the name you onboard with. Steamworks: Onboarding

  3. Plan around the 21-day waiting periodOtherhigh

    For your first titles there is a 21-day wait between paying the app fee and releasing the game. Steamworks: Onboarding

M2Store assets

Weeks 2 to 3 · 6 tasks
  1. Store capsules at the required sizesArturgent

    Header 920×430, small 462×174, main 1232×706, vertical 748×896. Every capsule needs a readable product title or logo. Steamworks: Store graphical assets

  2. Library assets at the required sizesArturgent

    Library capsule 600×900, library header 920×430, library hero 3840×1240, library logo 1280 wide and/or 720 tall. All four are required. Steamworks: Library assets

  3. At least five screenshots, 1920×1080 minimum, 16:9Arthigh

    Gameplay only. Review rejects concept art, pre-rendered stills, awards and marketing text in screenshots. Steamworks: Review process

  4. Trailer: gameplay first, understandable without soundArthigh

    Up to 1920×1080, 16:9 preferred, H.264 video with AAC audio. Steam asks that the first trailer be primarily gameplay with the HUD visible, and notes customers may watch without audio. A 6-second microtrailer is cut from it automatically. Steamworks: Trailers

  5. Short description and About This Game textDesignhigh

    The short description is plain text, a few hundred characters, shown at the top of the page. Neither section may link to or promote other websites; social and website links belong in the Basic Info fields. Steamworks: Store page description

  6. Apply at least five tags and order them by weightDesignhigh

    Five tags are required before launch and up to twenty count. The heaviest tags govern visibility, so order them in the Tag Wizard. Steamworks: Tags

M3Review and Coming Soon

Weeks 4 to 5 · 4 tasks
  1. Complete the Content SurveyOtherurgent

    Required before the store page can be reviewed. Valve's age rating is generated from it, and since November 2024 games without a valid rating are not shown to customers in Germany. Steamworks: Age ratings in Germany

  2. Set the release date displayOtherhigh

    Exact date, month, quarter, year, or plain Coming Soon. Choose a range you will not miss: within 14 days of the date it cannot be changed without contacting Valve. Steamworks: Release dates

  3. Mark the page as ready for reviewOtherurgent

    Review typically takes 3 to 5 business days. Submit at least 7 business days before you want the page live. Steamworks: Review process

  4. Post as Coming SoonOtherurgent

    Fix any review feedback, then publish. The page must be live for at least two weeks before you can release, and wishlisting starts the day it is public. Steamworks: Coming Soon

M4Wishlist push

Weeks 6 to 8 · 6 tasks
  1. Add UTM parameters to every link you postOtherhigh

    Steamworks UTM analytics reports visits, wishlists and purchases per tagged link. Without the parameters you cannot tell which post worked. Steamworks: UTM analytics

  2. Announce on Reddit: r/IndieDev, r/IndieGaming and your genre's subredditOtherhigh

    Read each subreddit's self-promotion rules first. Lead with a gameplay GIF.

  3. Post on Bluesky, X and your Discord with the Steam linkOtherhigh

    Pin the post where you can.

  4. Link the Steam page from itch, your website and your email signatureOtherlow

    Every surface that already gets traffic.

  5. Register for Steam Next Fest from the base game's landing pageOtherhigh

    Held three times a year, in February, June and October. Unreleased games only, one Next Fest per game, and a publicly playable demo is required by the time it starts. Steamworks: Steam Next Fest

  6. Weekly: record the wishlist count and UTM resultsOtherlow

    Do more of what moved the number.

Sources

Every requirement above was checked against the Steamworks documentation on 30 October 2026:

Start with this plan on your own board

Create a free project and the milestones and tasks are waiting for you.

Use this template