Steam Playtest gives developers a free, low-risk way to get playtesting data for their game without stressing out about Steam keys, user reviews, or wishlists. By using a separate “child” appID that is associated with, but separate from your main game, you can do the playtesting you need without interfering with your main game.

Here's an overview:
https://youtu.be/0_HhCEJ_kZ0

Steam 遊戲測試也便於管控遊戲測試的權限， 放行的玩家人數多寡完全取決於您的需求，而且可以任您決定何時停用遊戲測試應用程式。

How does it work?

A Steam Playtest appID has access to the same Steamworks technical features as your main game - but with reduced store and community setup. Instead of having its own separate store page, your Steam Playtest signup will live right on your main game, so that customers can sign up and access the playtest but still Wishlist or Follow the main game.

Here’s what a Steam Playtest signup looks like to customers:



Potential testers will be able to request access to your Steam Playtest if they're interested. When you're ready for testers to try it out, you can add as many as you'd like from the group of interested players. You can deactivate your Playtest app when you're ready - or leave it available if you want to keep experimenting with upcoming features.

How do I set it up?

1. 從您遊戲的關聯的套件與 DLC 頁面建立一個新的遊戲測試應用程式。
   
   
   
   
2. 在 Steamworks 中設定您的應用程式。
   
   至少須提供必要的收藏庫宣傳圖資產和社群資產（請見收藏庫資產）。 您也可以修改向顧客顯示的遊戲測試應用程式名稱（包含在地化名稱），但發行後即無法修改。
   
   
3. 準備就緒後，請完成遊戲測試應用程式的發行流程， 其中將包括簡化的商店頁面審核程序。 注意：遊戲測試不會有其專屬的商店頁面，只會以區塊的形式在遊戲主程式的商店頁面中顯示。 遊戲測試的商店審核檢查表只含有宣傳圖和標誌。
   
   
4. 您可以在主遊戲的商店頁面上顯示 Steam 遊戲測試註冊，開始受理註冊。 請前往主遊戲「編輯商店頁面」管理員工具中的「特殊設定」分頁啟用註冊功能。 發佈該頁的變更後，顧客即可在 Steam 商店中看到註冊選項。
   
   
   
   您可以隨時顯示或隱藏遊戲測試註冊功能。
   
   
5. 由於顧客已經在註冊參與您的 Steam 遊戲測試，下一步就是替他們準備內容。 將 Depot 上傳至遊戲測試中並設定組建，就像設定其它遊戲或試玩版一樣。 您可以整合 Steamworks 技術功能、設定 Steam 輸入模板、配置雲端存檔等。 如果您從未進行過這些步驟，可以參考上傳至 Steam 文獻做為起步。
   
   
6. 待您的遊戲測試準備就緒且組建也上線後，就可以開始接納玩家。 在您遊戲測試應用程式的 Steamworks 設定中，點擊「管理您的遊戲測試」連結（或在「應用程式」分頁下找到「遊戲測試設定」）。 準備好後即可新增玩家群組， 玩家將從註冊參與者中隨機選出。
   
   若您的伺服器可用性有限，且您想確定在遊戲測試中連線延遲不會成為問題，您也可以選擇特定國家 / 地區。
   
   
   
   
7. 收集完遊戲測試資料後，可以到 Steam 遊戲測試合作夥伴設定頁面，將遊戲測試設定為「不可玩」以停用此功能。 玩家在 Steam 商店註冊參與期間，不會顯示此選項。 停用此功能後，Steam 就不會啟動遊戲測試應用程式了。
   
   請三思而後行！ 要是一聲不響就移除了這項體驗，您的玩家社群可是會難過失望的，因此最好提前溝通讓玩家們有心理準備。 可以使用 Steam 活動與公告來說明您遊戲測試的詳情。
   
   
8. 如果您希望在遊戲測試結束後再重新啟用，可能是因為您進行了某些變更或增加了伺服器容量，則可以將遊戲測試重新設定為「可見」。 已經獲得存取權的玩家仍擁有此權限，且不須再次註冊或再度被授與存取權。

Signup Type

The default behavior is limited signup - potential playtesters request access, and you grant access in batches as you have capacity to accept them.

If your game is ready for more people, you can also set your playtest to Open signup: as players request access from the base game store page, they will be automatically added.

Changing from a limited-signup playtest (the default) will kick off a process that accepts any pending playtesters. This will generally start within a few minutes.

The signup type option is also controlled from the Steam Playtest page on the partner site. You can change the signup type whenever you need.

Common Configurations

遊戲測試「不」可玩且「不」接受註冊。
This is the default configuration when you initially set up your playtest before setting it live or accepting sign-ups. It will also be the final configuration, once you are completely done running your playtest.



遊戲測試「不」可玩但接受新註冊。
This is the configuration you would likely set up initially to have players sign up prior to your playtest ever being available. You might also want this configuration if you’ve ended a playtest, but are planning on doing another one in the future and would like to add more playtesters to the future playtest event.



遊戲測試可玩且接受新註冊。
This might be the right setting for when your playtest is live and you plan on adding more playtesters in the future, perhaps you will be expanding server capacity or adding new features, and will need more playtesters to try out a future build.



遊戲測試可玩但「不」接受新註冊。
You may want this configuration if you are not planning on admitting any additional playtesters in the future but still want your current playtesters to have access to the build.

Gathering Feedback From Players

Collecting feedback from players is up to you. We've seen a number of developers include a big 'feedback' button right on the main menu of their game, leading to wherever that developer wishes to collect and manage the feedback. It could lead to a Steam forum, or it could be your discord channel, bug tracking software, your own website forums, or wherever else you wish.

We suggest you engage directly with your audience - let them know what kind of feedback you are after and where best to share it. You can also provide links to your preferred feedback or communication system directly in a community Announcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

問：Valve 為何決定推出此工具？
答：各種規模的工作室一再表示希望與線上顧客進行有限、低風險的遊戲測試，於是我們推出了全新的 Steam 遊戲測試功能。 遊戲開發團隊希望能自由進行遊戲測試，毋須煩惱使用者評論或影響到願望清單的數目……又希望全權掌控遊戲測試的啟動、暫停和結束。 我們期待這一套全新工具能幫助開發者拉近與玩家的距離，催生更優秀的遊戲。

We saw a number of other surprising or unofficial solutions to the same set of problems; stuff like offering a demo that was really just an Open Beta, or shipping a free “Prologue” game to build momentum. Devs were using whatever tools they could to build community and gather playtesting data. Those are great problems to solve, so we want to provide an official, well-supported solution that is easier for developers and more consistent for players.

問：如果我想進行遊戲測試，但希望使用 Steam 序號來控制存取權呢？
答：多年來，開發者都是藉由授與 Steam 序號這項免費的 Steam 功能個別進行封閉測試。 這種方式不會就此消失，只要適合您的遊戲或社群，您還是可以使用免費的「發行覆寫」Steam 序號進行封閉測試。 請參閱在 Steam 上進行測試文獻，以獲得相關資訊。 You can find more information in the Testing On Steam documentation.

問：如果我有問題或意見回饋，要如何與你們聯絡？
答：請使用我們此處的聯絡表格，在遭遇問題時通知我們，或對這項功能提供意見回饋。

問：何時能使用 Steam 遊戲測試？
答：我們認為使用此功能最恰當且可能也是最普遍的時機，就是在遊戲發行前。 您的首要任務可能是為遊戲準備一個即將推出頁面，以便開始收集願望清單並建立社群。 完成之後，即可透過 Steam 遊戲測試在發行前取得線上玩家的意見回饋。

If you want, you can keep using the Playtest appID as a testing ground for new tools or features… but remember: Steam Playtest is free for customers. Keeping your playtest up after release probably only makes sense if your game is already free-to-play.

問：Steam 如何選擇能加入受限型遊戲測試的玩家？
答：Steam 會從一組已要求存取權的 Steam 帳戶中，隨機挑選遊戲測試玩家。 您有選項能選擇加入在特定國家 / 地區的測試者，不過這選項在伺服器可用性有限，且想解決延遲問題的情況下比較有意義。

問：玩家會如何得知已被授與遊戲測試的存取權？
答：玩家被加入遊戲測試時會收到來自 Steam 的電子郵件。 而且會在遊戲主程式的商店頁面上看到自己的狀態。

Q: Will players be notified when a Playtest is set to playable?
A: Steam will not email when a build for a Playtest is set to playable/non-playable. We recommend you use an announcement from the Steam Events and Announcements system to let players know when the Playtest is playable.

Q: How do I end a Steam Playtest?
A: You can mark the playtest "Not playable" from the Steam Playtest page on the partner site. Make sure to disable the store-page signup first.

Q: Is my Steam Playtest confidential?
A: No - players signing up for a Playtest aren’t under nondisclosure agreements with you, and there shouldn’t be an expectation of secrecy. If you want to run a confidential beta and require players to agree to an NDA, you can do a few different things.

1. Use the Playtest App ID, request keys, set the Playtest to Playable and Store Visibility to Hidden.
   
2. Use the main game's App ID and request release override keys.

Both of these paths will require you to have your own solution for signing up and registering players.

Q: Does my Steam Playtest have a store page? Can customers find it in the store?
A: The Playtest will not have its own store page; instead, it will be listed as an option available on the main game’s store page. That way, any search traffic, store recommendations, etc all funnel towards the real product for users to wishlist and follow.

Q: Can I charge for access to my Playtest?
A: No - the design of Steam Playtest is for free signups. And since Playtests can be deactivated at any time, it’s not OK to monetize them with in-game transactions, or sell access. If you’re ready to charge money for a work-in-progress version of your game, you should use Steam Early Access.

Q: How should I coordinate players for an online/multiplayer playtest?
A: Some multiplayer games may wish to open up servers during limited time windows, and that’s an ok use of Steam Playtest. We’d recommend using Steam Events and Announcements to talk to your players about scheduled updates or coordinated playtests.

Q: If I run a Steam Playtest, will it mess with my real game?
A: Your Steam Playtest appID is a separate appID from your main game. As a result, things like playtime, wishlists, reviews, refunds, etc. are separate as well. For example:

• 顧客加入或退出遊戲測試與否，不影響與您遊戲相關的願望清單
  
• 只參加遊戲測試的顧客無法給予您的主遊戲評論
  
• 顧客在遊戲測試中的遊戲時數不影響 Steam 退款政策，也不影響購買主遊戲的玩家能否獲得退款
  
• 顧客在遊戲測試中的遊戲時數不影響能否獲得交換卡片或解鎖成就