[section=build]SteamPipe Builds and Patch Notes[/section] When submitting a new build for your game via SteamPipe, a small prompt will automatically appear to encourage you to also post a patch note for your customers. This prompt lets you easily submit your patch notes inlines at the point after submitting the build. Often developers will use this to write a bullet point list of the changes made. Patch notes following your build updates is helpful for your customers to realize you are continuing work on and improve your game. [docimg=41b67b4a94e6487c5e07c6085dbb9d63d8d9e166.jpg]41b67b4a94e6487c5e07c6085dbb9d63d8d9e166.jpg[/docimg] You can always use the regular event editor to post the patch notes at a later time. …

We think customers are better off if a developer can focus on the one best version of their game, rather than making and maintaining many separate builds-- especially if one build ends up as a second-class experience missing some testing or updates. …

[/list] [/callout] [h3]Purchase games for commercial use on Steam[/h3] [callout] Only games specifically mentioned for commercial use on Steam can be offered to your customers and patrons. Commercial game licenses can be found by visiting a game's individual Steam store page. The commercial license and details about it will be displayed right under the regular end user purchase option on the game's store page. …

[/list] [section=audio_recommendations]Audio[/section] [subsection=volume_controls]Custom Volume Controls[/subsection] [h4]Why is this tag important to players?[/h4] Players may need to reduce distracting sounds so that they can focus on sounds that they need to hear. …

Providing options for background opacity, text color and size can allow players to customize the subtitles for their comfort. Players can look for this tag to know that they can enable clear, readable subtitles for all dialog. …

We strongly recommend that you do not turn off this feature, as it is very valuable for customers that have left the PC without logging out of their Steam account. If you do choose to deactivate this feature, we recommend that you let your customers know. …

[b]See Also:[/b] [api]ISteamUGC::RemoveDependency[/api] [subsection=AddExcludedTag]AddExcludedTag[/subsection] [code=cpp]bool AddExcludedTag( UGCQueryHandle_t handle, const char *pTagName );[/code] [table] [tr][th]Name[/th][th]Type[/th][th]Description[/th][/tr] [tr][td][b]handle[/b][/td][td][apitype]ISteamUGC::UGCQueryHandle_t[/apitype][/td][td]The UGC query handle to customize.[/td][/tr] [tr][td][b]pTagName[/b][/td][td]const char *[/td][td]The tag must NOT be attached to the UGC to receive it.[/td][/tr] [/table] Adds a excluded tag to a pending UGC Query. …

[subsection=AddRequiredTag]AddRequiredTag[/subsection] [code=cpp]bool AddRequiredTag( UGCQueryHandle_t handle, const char *pTagName );[/code] [table] [tr][th]Name[/th][th]Type[/th][th]Description[/th][/tr] [tr][td][b]handle[/b][/td][td][apitype]ISteamUGC::UGCQueryHandle_t[/apitype][/td][td]The UGC query handle to customize.[/td][/tr] [tr][td][b]pTagName[/b][/td][td]const char *[/td][td]The tag must be attached to the UGC to receive it.[/td][/tr] [/table] Adds a required tag to a pending UGC Query. …

We are allocating a portion of our Steam Deck LCD units for partners to test their titles. These are the same Steam Decks that are shipping to customers, there is no additional development software or hardware changes. Steam Deck dev kits are ready to ship, and we've opened up the Steam Deck Dev Kit request form. …

[section]Overview[/section] Custom configuration files can be included directly within your game depots for a number of benefits: [list] [*]Official configurations can be checked into Perforce or other revision control tools [*]Managing configurations between different branches of your game or between a public and private AppID is easier [*]Updates are atomic rather than being done via two publishing steps in Steamworks [/list] [section]Format[/section] The action manifest file is an extension of the [doclink=features/steam_controller/iga_file][/doclink] which includes an extra section containing a list of official configurations broken out by type: [code] "Action Manifest" { "configurations" { } "actions" { } "localization" { } } [/code] For information about the action and localization sections please see the [doclink=features/steam_controller/iga_file][/doclink] documentation. …

This is an example from the Steamworks SDK: [code] "configurations" { "controller_xboxone" { "0" { "path" "xbox_controller.vdf" } } "controller_steamcontroller_gordon" { "0" { "path" "steam_controller.vdf" } } } [/code] [subsection]Step 5 - Set the Steamworks settings[/subsection] To set your Steamworks settings in the partner site, navigate to the Steam Input settings. Next set the dropdown to "Custom Configuration (Bundled with game)" and enter the path where the action manifest is located: [docimg=gamebundledconfigdropdown.PNG]gamebundledconfigdropdown.PNG[/docimg] [section]Debugging a game that uses an Action Manifest File[/section] When running the game through Steam the Action Manifest file will automatically be pulled from your game depots. …

Promotions may involve other Steam products, or products/brands outside of Steam. These types of promotions are encouraged and many customers find value in them. However, under no circumstances is it okay to charge other developers to participate in a bundle or to sell access to a sale page or other page on Steam. [*][subsection]Paid Advertising Outside Steam[/subsection] Developers may want to run paid advertising campaigns to drive traffic to their Steam product pages. …

Once you are on the Regions and Countries page, you can click the little plus symbol next to a region to expand and see further details including the number of wishlists from customers in that region. [subsection]Platform Breakdown[/subsection] You'll notice a section labeled 'Platform-specific wishlisting' on the right-hand side of your Wishlist reporting. …

For sale landing pages, there is a robust set of tools that provide a lot of power and customization. Described here are the minimum set of requirements for a basic page. << [doclink=marketing/event_tools/sales/tools]Back to full sale page tools[/doclink] >> [doclink=store/assets]Go to full graphical asset list [/doclink] Sales page Events are made up of two parts: [olist] [*][b]The announcement[/b] - This is the part of the event that shows up as 'news' on your group's page and in the News Hub for any users that follow your group or developer homepage. [*][b]The landing page[/b] - The sale event page itself that features the games, broadcasts, and/or events that you configure. …

Steamworks is a set of tools that enable you to distribute your product to Steam customers and a set of features you can use in your product, such as matchmaking, leaderboards, Steam Workshop, etc. The Steamworks partner portal is where you'll be able to manage each of your products, and your account and company information. …

[section]Steam Screenshots API[/section] The Steamworks SDK provides access to [api]ISteamScreenshots[/api], and enables you to use advanced features and integrate the Steam Screenshots system right into your game for the best experience for your customers. By default Steam will handle taking screenshots, but you can take over control by hooking the screenshots using [api]ISteamScreenshots::HookScreenshots[/api]. …

Under Devkits you'll find [b]Connect to devkit by IP[/b] where you can put in [b]frame[/b] or your custom hostname if you've changed it. Then click on the [b]Title Upload[/b] button. [list] [*][b]Name[/b]: This will be the name that appears in your Steam Library on the headset. [*][b]Local Folder[/b]: The location you want to upload files from. …

In this case, clicking the "Buy on Steam" button from the widget will take customers to the Steam website with the item in their cart where they can easily complete the purchase process and pay with whatever method they prefer, including funds from their Steam Wallet. …

Steam provides many different features and APIs to improve the multiplayer experience for developers and customers alike. With these features you can easily allow players to find and play with each other using the Steam Matchmaking APIs, or use the Steam Game Servers API to provide persistent dedicated servers that your players can create communities around. …

It will default to show the small capsule for the game being broadcasted and then show a screenshot from the live broadcast when the user hovers over it. This allows Steam customers to quickly browse through available live broadcasts. [docimg=live_stream_widget.png]live_stream_widget.png[/docimg] [subsection]Prioritization order[/subsection] When a person visits your sale page, the Broadcast player will choose a livestream to show based on the following logic: [olist] [*] Broadcasts from Steam accounts explicitly added on the "Broadcast" tab and set to priority "Primary" [*] Broadcasts from either of these sources: [list] [*] Steam accounts explicitly added on the "Broadcast" tab and set to priority "Featured" [*] Broadcasts who have a current live slot in the Event Schedule widget (if a schedule widget is included in the sales events) are treated as equal to "Featured" above [doclink=marketing/event_tools/sales/sections#schedule]Learn more about the event schedule sale section.…

For unreleased games, setting a build live should have no impact on customers, since the game is only owned by the Steam accounts in the Steamworks partner account (or by anyone who has redeemed a Steam key for your game). …

Is your interface reasonably sized on various resolutions? Can customers adjust resolution to make sure it fits natively on their monitor? These are all options that are pretty standard in successful PC titles. …

[docimg=stream5.png]stream5.png[/docimg] [olist] [*]Navigate to File-->Settings-->Stream [*]In the dropdown menu, select “Custom...” [docimg=stream6.png]stream6.png[/docimg] [*]In the “Server” field, use the RTMP URL generated under the “Upload Server” field at http://steamcommunity.com/broadcast/upload/ [*]In the “Stream Key” field, enter the token provided at http://steamcommunity.com/broadcast/upload/ [*]In OBS, navigate to File-->Settings-->Output [docimg=stream7.png]stream7.png[/docimg] [*]Under Output Mode, select “Advanced” in the drop-down menu. [*]On the Streaming tab, enter Keyframe Interval to 2. …

[docimg=stream14.png]stream14.png[/docimg] Here you can enter a title for your broadcast from the list, or enter your own. If you enter a custom name, don’t forget to add localized titles. [docimg=stream12.png]stream12.png[/docimg] This is where you will designate one or more Steam accounts as allowed to stream to your store page during the event. …