How Much to Upload a Game to Steam

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Have you created a computer game of your own? Would yous like to distribute it online and possibly brand some coin by selling it? For more than a decade, Steam has been one of the most popular online distributors for PC games. In order to get a game on Steam, yous demand to register as a partner at Steamworks. Y'all'll demand to fill up out some forms, pay a submission fee, and go through an onboarding procedure. Then you will need to create your shop folio, build the depots for your game, upload a game build, and set a cost for your game. Valve will demand to review and approve everything before your game volition be bachelor for customers to download. This wikiHow teaches you lot how get a game on Steam.

1. ane

   Get to https://partner.steamgames.com/ in a web browser. This is the website for Steamworks. Here you can sign upwards to be a game developer. You'll need to fill up out some paperwork in club to sign up for Steamworks. Earlier yous keep, you should take your banking concern business relationship and routing number bachelor, also equally your tax information. There is likewise a product submission fee of $100.00 per game you want to distribute on Steam. You will need to go through an approval procedure, which will accept nigh a week.

2. ii

   Log in and sign up to be a game developer. You can log in to Steamworks with your existing Steam account. So you lot need to click Sign Up next to "Game Developer or Publisher." There will be a form explaining the onboarding process. Read this as information technology tells you everything you demand and and then click Keep at the bottom of the page.

   • Alternatively, you can sign upward to be a VR content developer or a software developer for Steam.

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3. iii

   Fill out the forms and click Continue . Y'all'll need to provide your proper name or company name, concrete address, payment notification e-mail, language, and fax number. You volition also demand to agree to a not-disclosure agreement (NDA). Click Keep at the bottom of each page when you are gear up to proceed.

4. four

   Fill out your payment information and make the payment. You will be charged a $100.00 fee per game you lot desire to upload. To make your payment, select your payment type and fill out your payment information. Click Continue at the bottom. to stop.

5. 5

   Fill out whatever additional data. You'll need to provide some tax information. This will vary depending on if y'all are producing games equally an individual or as a visitor. Fill out any additional forms yous are asked to consummate. When you are finished, your applications will need to be reviewed by Steam. This may accept near a week. Once the onboarding process will exist complete, you tin can start creating your store page and uploading your game builds.^[1]

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1. 1

   Go to https://partner.steamgames.com/home and log in. This takes you to your Steamworks dashboard. You volition need to have completed the onboarding procedure before this is available.

2. 2

   Click your game. Yous volition see a list of incomplete games below "Unpublished Applications." Click the game you want to upload. If you have non uploaded any information about your game, there will be a bare game listed equally "YOUR GAME Hither (0000000)." When yous open your game, you volition see a checklist in the panel to the right. All items in that checklist need to be completed before you can submit your game for approval.

   • If you take a release date for your game, you can click Update below "Date to be released on Steam" in the box in the upper-right corner and select your release date on the agenda. This will complete 1 of your checklist items.

3. 3

   Click Edit Store Folio . It's the showtime pick below "Shop Presence." You will need to fill out the form below each tab. You lot'll need to have all the information almost your game available likewise as a few screenshots, graphic images for your store, and a video trailer.

4. four

   Click each of the tabs at the top and fill out the course. Each of the tabs at the tiptop of the page contains a course for yous to fill out. The information you provide will will be used to create your store page on Steam. Fill out each form every bit completely every bit possible and click Relieve at the bottom. The tabs at the top are equally follows:

   • Basic Info: This is where you will provide the bulk of the information almost your game. This lengthy form asks you lot to provide the name of your game, the developer, the publisher, links to your social media and external websites, keywords, PC specs and requirements, release engagement, supported languages, genres, multiplayer information, DRM information, legal information, every bit well equally support contact information for your game.
   • Description: This page is where you can provide a clarification for your game. You'll demand to provide a long description and a short description. The long description volition exist displayed on your store folio. Information technology should be as detailed as possible. The short description will be used at diverse places throughout Steam. There is as well a section for reviews and awards.
   • Ratings: If your game has received an official content rating from a game rating bureau (i.e. ESRB, PEGI, BBFC, etc), y'all can include it here forth with the content information technology was rated for. Do not include any ratings unless your game has been evaluated by the bureau and you have received an official rating. Y'all can also add an historic period-gate for your game to restrict sales to minors.
   • Early Access: If you plan on assuasive early admission to your game, make full out this page to provide the Early on Access data. Yous will need to include why you lot are using early admission, how long it will go along, how it will differ from the full version, any deviation in price between early access and the full version, too as, the current state of your early access game.
   • Game Avails: This is where you can provide images for your game. You will need to include some screenshots of your game, a header image, groundwork prototype, and capsule images that volition exist used throughout the Steam app. You tin drag and driblet your images onto the page to upload them. There are besides several nix files for download that incorporate sample files, guidelines, and Photoshop templates you tin can apply to create your own images.
   • Trailers: This is where you lot can upload video trailers for your game. Your video trailer should accept a 16:9 ratio with a resolution of 1920x1080. Information technology should take a loftier scrap charge per unit of 5000 kbps or more. Information technology can be either 30 frames-per-second or sixty frames-per-second. It should also exist in MOV or WMV format. Type a name for your trailer and click Create. Then drag and drop the video file into the box to upload it.
   • Special Features: This is where you can add a Google Analytics tracker if y'all take one. You can also include any data y'all have about downloadable content or demos you take for your game.

5. five

   Click Preview changes in store to view your store folio. When you lot are washed designing your store folio, you tin click Preview changes in store in the upper-right corner to see what your store page looks like. Brand sure at that place is zero you demand to change.^[2]

6. 6

   Click the Publish tab. This tab lets you lot publish all the changes yous have fabricated This will not release your game publicly on Steam unless your game has already been released.

7. 7

   Publish your store page. To do so click the bluish push button that says Gear up for Publishing. Then click the blue button that says Publish to Steam. And then enter your password and click Really Publish.

8. 8

   Add pricing to your game. Once you lot've decided on a toll for your game, you can use the "Suggest Cost" feature to suggest prices for other markets and currencies. This suggests the best value for those markets. Apply the following steps to add pricing to your game:

   • Get to https://partner.steamgames.com/abode and log in.
   • Click your game beneath "Unpublished Applications."
   • Click the game parcel yous desire to set up a price for.
   • Click Propose Pricing.
   • Utilise the drop-down menu next to "Select in USD" to select a cost for your game.
   • Make any cost changes to the suggested prices y'all want.
   • Click Relieve Pricing.

9. 9

   Add community images to your game. Community images are used on your store folio and a variety of other community hubs. You volition as well be required to upload an ICO paradigm to use every bit the desktop icon for your game (you tin convert a JPEG to an ICO file using free Photoshop plug-ins or a gratuitous online image conversion site). Use the post-obit steps to upload your community images:

   • Go to https://partner.steamgames.com/dwelling house and log in.
   • Click your game below "Unpublished Applications."
   • Click Edit Steamworks Settings.
   • Click the Basic Info tab.
   • Click Scan below "Capsules" and upload a 184 x 69 pixel capsule image.
   • Click Browse below "Community Icon and upload your 32 x 32 pixel customs icon.
   • Click Browse below "Client Icon" and upload your desktop icon ICO image.

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1. ane

2. 2

   Click your game. You will see a list of incomplete games beneath "Unpublished Applications." Click the game you want to create a Steam build for.^[3]

3. 3

   Click Edit Steamworks Settings . It's the start option listed below "Technical Tools."

4. four

   Enter the name of the game and click Save . Use the text box next to "Game" to enter the name of your game. Then click save.

5. 5

   Cheque which operating systems the game is for and click Save . Click the checkbox next to whichever operating systems your game supports. You tin publish games for Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

6. six

   Click Configuration under the "Installation" tab. The Installation tab is the third tab at the height fo the page. Click it and and so click Configuration.

7. 7

   Modify the proper noun of the install binder (if needed). This is the binder that will be created when the game is installed. Past default, it will be the name of your game. To alter it, enter a new proper name for the install folder adjacent to "Current install folder" and click Update install folder.

8. 8

   Click Add together New Lanuch Option . It's the blue button below "Launch Options."

9. 9

   Enter the name of the executable or launch file of the game. This is the executable file (or other launch file) that Steam will apply to launch the game from within the Steam customer. Enter the name of the launch file from your build.

10. 10

    Change the operating system (if needed) and click Update . If you have a build for all operating systems, you can exit it every bit "Any." Yous will need to create a separate launch option for each operating organisation. If your build is for a specific operating system, select it next to "Operating Arrangement."

    • Additionally, if you need to specify a CPU architecture (32-bit or 64-bit). Y'all can utilise the terminal driblet-downwardly carte to do then.

11. eleven

    Click Depots under the "Installation" tab. The depots are what Steam uses to package and comprise all the files that volition exist downloaded from Steam. Y'all game should accept at least one depot. If you need to add more, you can practice so from this page.

12. 12

    Select the operating organization and language for each depot. Utilise the drop-down menus next to each listed depot to select the operating system and language for the game.

13. 13

    Click Save Changes . It'due south the blue button below section for creating and calculation new depots.

    • You can go through other tabs and check to see what additional metadata y'all would like to add to your game.

14. 14

    Click the Publish tab. This tab lets y'all publish all the changes you accept made This will not release your game. It will only publish the metadata and the configuration changes you have made.

15. 15

    Publish your game data. To exercise so click the blue push that says Prepare for Publishing. So click the blue button that says Publish to Steam. Then enter your password and click Really Publish.

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1. i

   Download Steamworks SDK. You volition need to apply the Steamworks SDK to create the Steam build for your game. Use the following steps to download Steamworks SDK:

   • Go to https://partner.steamgames.com/doctor/sdk in a web browser.
   • Click the text that says Hither to download Steamworks SDK as a nada file.
   • Excerpt the contents of the zip file.

2. 2

   Navigate to the "ContentBuilder" folder in the Steamworks SDK. Use File Explorer on Windows of Finder on Mac to open the Steamworks SDK binder you downloaded and extracted before and open the following folders:

   • Open the sdk folder.
   • Open the Tools folder.
   • Open up the ContentBuilder folder.

3. 3

   Open up the "app_build_1000.vdf" file in the "Scripts" folder. The "Scripts" folder under "ContentBuilder" has a file called "app_builder_1000.vdf." You can open up the file using a text editor program like "Notepad" or "TextEdit." Right-click the file and click Open with. Then click the program you lot desire to open the file with.

4. 4

   Change the AppID to your actual appID from Steam. The offset line lists the appID equally "1000." Change the "1000" to your game'south actual numeric appID. It's the number listed at the end of the URL when you edit your game in the Steamworks Settings page. You can copy and paste information technology from the stop of the URL after you publish your game.

   • You can also modify the appID in the file name of the "app_build_1000.vdf" file, though that's not required.
   • If you know what you lot are doing, you can modify any of the other settings in the app_build_1000.vdf file. If you lot don't know what you are doing, go out them as they are.

5. 5

   Change the depot ID to your actual depot ID number. The depot ID is listed as "1001" by default at the bottom next to "depot_build_1001.vdf." Change information technology to your actual depot ID. The depot ID is the 6-digit number listed next to the game title at the top of the depot page in the Steamworks Settings web page. Click File followed, by Salvage to save the file when you lot are done.

   • If you lot plan on changing the filename of the "depot_build_1001.vdf" file, exist sure to supersede the "1001" in the filename as well.

6. 6

   Open the depot_build_1001.vdf" file. It's the next file in the "Scripts" binder in "ContentBuilder." Open this file with a text editor such as "Notepad" or "TextEdit."

7. seven

   Replace the depot ID number with the actual Depot ID for your game. Modify the default "1001" depot ID with your actual depot ID from the Steamworks Settings webpage. Then save the file.

   • You can too replace the "1001" in the file proper name with your actual depot number. Only make sure you lot do then at the bottom of the "app_build_1000.vdf" file as well.

8. viii

   Copy all the files you want to become packaged. Go to the installation folder for your game build and copy all the files from that binder that you lot want to get packaged.

9. 9

   Paste the game in the "Content" folder in Steamworks SDK. Navigate back to the "ContentBuilder" folder in Steamworks SDK. Open the "content" folder and paste your game's contents in this folder.

   • If you create a new root folder in the "contents" binder for this specific depot, be certain to note the folder path relative to the "content" folder next to "LocalPath" in the "depot_build_1001.vdf" file where the "*" is (i.k. ".\windows\*").

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1. one

   Enabled SteamCMD in the Terminal on Mac (MacOS simply). If you lot are using a Mac, you'll need to apply the post-obit steps to enable SteamCmd in the Terminal. This volition allow y'all to use SteamCmd in the Terminal the same way you would apply it in the Command Prompt in Windows. Utilise the following steps to enable SteamCmd in the Terminal:

   • Utilise the Finder to navigate to the following folder in the Steamworks SDK binder you extracted: "\sdk\tools\ContentBuilder\builder_osx\"
   • Correct-click the "osx32" folder and click Become Info.
   • Highlight and copy the location next to "Where."
   • Open the Terminal in the Utilities binder or using the Spotlight search part.
   • Type cd and printing Control + V to paste the path yous copied and press Enter.
   • Type chmod +ten steamcmd and press Enter.
   • Go back to the previous "ContentBuilder" folder in the Finder and copy the location of the "builder_osx" folder.
   • Type cd and paste the location of the folder and press Enter.
   • Type bash ./steamcmd.sh and printing enter to beginning SteamCmd.
     • To get out SteamCmd, type get out and press Enter.

2. 2

   Run SteamCmd on Windows (Windows Only). If you are using a Windows computer, employ the following steps to run SteamCmd:

   • Use File Explorer to navigate to the "\sdk\tools\ContentBuilder\builder" in the Steamworks SDK folder yous extracted.
   • Double-click Steamcmd.exe.

3. 3

   Log in to SteamCmd (if needed). If you are asked to log in type the following command to log in with your Steam account: Substitute "<account name> for your Steam username, and "<password>" for your Steam countersign.

   • steamcmd.exe +login <account_name> <password>
   • If you are asked to enter a Steam Guard code, call back the four digit code from your E-mail or Steam Guard app and blazon steamcmd.exe "set_steam_guard_code <code>". Supervene upon "<code>" with your Steam Guard code.

4. four

   Type run_app_build. You still demand to enter the location app_build vdf file. Practice non press Enter just withal.

5. 5

   Navigate to the "Scripts" folder in the Steamworks SDK. This is the same folder that contains the same folder that contains the "app_build_1000.vdf" file y'all previously edited.

6. half-dozen

   Re-create the location of the "Scripts" folder and paste it in the SteamCmd. Use one of the following steps to copy and paste the "Scripts" folder. And then click SteamCmd and paste the location of the Scripts folder ane space after the "run_app_build" control.

   • Windows: Click Scripts in the address bar at the top and click Re-create accost as text.
   • Mac: Right-click the "Scripts" folder and click Get Info. Highlight and copy the location adjacent to "Where:" .

7. 7

   Type the name of the "app_build" vdf folder and printing ↵ Enter . If y'all left app_build vdf files as "app_build_1000", simply type that immediately after the binder location in SteamCmd. If you alter the "thou" to the actual app ID, exist certain to enter the right file name. Press Enter to build your app on Steam. This may take a while depending on how large your game is. When this is completed, your game build will accept been packaged and uploaded to the depot on Steam.

8. 8

   Go to the "Build" tab in Steamworks Settings. Use the following steps to get to the Build tab in Steamworks settings:

   • Go to https://partner.steamgames.com/home and log in
   • Click your game.
   • Click Edit Steamworks Settings.
   • Click the Build tab.

9. 9

   Set build live co-operative to "Default" and click Preview change . Use the drop-downward menu below "Set build live branch" to select "Default." This is the default way customers download your game. Click Preview change next to the drib-down menu when y'all are finished.

   • If you desire you can click the depot number and inspect the files in the depot to make sure they are right.

10. 10

    Click Ready Build Live now and click Ok . This sets your game build to Live on Steam. It will non be available for customers to download unless the game has already been released.

11. 11

    Install and test your game. After yous build your game on Steam, log in to the Steam client and search for your game. If your game has not been released, it should only be available under your account. Go to the store page and click the Install button to install your build from Steam. Launch the Steam build of the game and make sure it works properly.

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1. one

   Finish everything in your checklist. Before you tin can submit your page for review, you lot need to have everything in your checklist checked off.

2. 2

3. 3

   Click your game. You will run across a list of incomplete games below "Unpublished Applications." Click the game you want to upload.

4. 4

   Click Marker every bit Set up For Review . It's the green button in the upper-left corner of the folio. This push is only available after your checklist is consummate. Click this button and then click Ok to confirm. Your page volition be reviewed by Valve. Your game page will either be canonical, or you will receive some feedback from Valve near things you need to change.

5. five

   Log back in after your game has been approved. Once your game is approved, there will be a push that allows you to view your release options.

6. 6

   Click your game. This takes you lot to your app landing page.

7. seven

   Click View Release Options . It's the green button at the tiptop of the page.

8. 8

   Click one of the release options. Your release options are as follows:

   • Set for Release: This publishes your game immediately. It will be available for purchase and play via Steam.
   • Prepare for Coming Presently: This publishes your game shop folio every bit Coming Soon. Steam users will be able to add your game to their Wish Listing and your community volition be live and agile.
   • Prepare for Early on Admission: This publishes your game store folio with your Early on Access content available for download. User's volition be allowed to buy and download your Early on Admission content, but not the full game.

9. 9

   Click Publish At present . Information technology's the green button on the review folio. This publishes your shop page and publishes alive on Steam. Congratulations! You have published your game on Steam.

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About This Article

Commodity Summary Ten

one. Sign upward to go a game programmer at Steam partner at https://partner.steamgames.com/.
2. Fill up out all the paperwork and pay the $100 submission fee to complete the onboarding process.
3. Log in at https://partner.steamgames.com/home and click Edit Shop Page.
4. Fill out the forms nether each tab to build your shop page.
5. Click "Edit Steamworks Settings and create a new launch option.
half-dozen. Get the appID and depot ID from the Steamworks Settings page.
7. Download the Steamworks SDK parcel from https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/sdk and excerpt it.
8. Navigate to the "\sdk\tools\ContentBuilder\scripts" binder in the Steamworks SDK package.
ix. Alter the app ID and depot ID in the "app_build_1000.vdf" and "depot_build_1001.vdf" files to match your actual app ID and depot ID from the Steamworks Settings website.
eleven. Launch SteamCMD in the "ContentBuilder"
12. Type "run_app_build " and press Enter. thirteen. Suggest a price for your game in Steamworks.
14. Upload your Community Images in the "Bones Infor" tab under Steamworks Settings.
15. Mark your game as "Ready for Review" and look for Valve to approve your game.
sixteen. Publish your game as "Prepare for Release" or "Set for Coming Soon."

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