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When a game is released on Steam, how does the "free keys for previous buyers" thing work?

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yomisma

When a game is sold in other online stores, physical editions, bundles, etc. and then it gets released on Steam, how does the process of providing free Steam keys for previous buyers work?

I've heard that Steam provides free keys to the developers/distributors, and then they distribute them among the previous buyers who provide proof of purchase. Does it work like that?

It really doesn't have an extra cost for developers?

Anyone who knows it could explain the exact procedure?

Edit: I am asking this because Edna & Harvey The Breakout is now on Steam, and I think it did not pass through a greenlight process. I read somewhere that it wouldn't be released on Steam because the English translation didn't met the Steam standards, or something like that, so I bought it last year on the GalaStore. The DRM-free version there is outdated and buggy, and the Steam one is updated.

GalaStore say that it's up to Daedalic, and Daedalic say that they won't provide Steam keys for previous buyers because "they would go bankrupt if they did"...

11 years ago*

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14 Comments
MarvelousMax

Well, only works like that with greenlight lately. And then they add keys to bundles they were in or you have to email the devs.

11 years ago
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yomisma

Thanks for answering, I updated with more info.

11 years ago
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Lunk

It varies, usually depending on where you got it from. Sometimes a developer will e-mail them directly to people who bought from them, or they'll get added to the bundle page for people who bought a bundle it came in, or they'll appear on your Desura account for games that are redeemable there that get added later, or Steam will incorporate preexisting non-Steam keys and allow you to redeem them on Steam.

As far as costing extra: I don't think it costs the developers anything extra. I'm pretty sure Steam is happy to provide them as a way to guide more people to their client and store. They may not get paid upfront, but they certainly benefit from the mentality of people who want to own all their games on Steam.

11 years ago
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yomisma

Thanks for answering, I updated with more info.

11 years ago
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Lunk

Ah. Reading the edit, that's a bummer. GalaStore's right, it's entirely up to Daedalic. If they say no, there's not much you can do about it.

11 years ago
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yomisma

Maybe they don't know they can get the keys for free? Otherwise I don't understand why they would go bankrupt...

11 years ago
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blindio

its likely without the steam sales theyd go bankrupt, probably took out loans to make the game and are banking on steam sales to repay them and stuff which is fair enough if they didnt promise steam keys on galastore dont expect em, its nice when devs provide em but nice dont pay their bills so i understand where theyre coming from

11 years ago
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yomisma

I understand it, but I already bought the game in one place, and they didn't even bothered in updating the version on the Gala site. Do they expect previous buyers to buy the game AGAIN? I don't think we can be seen as a potential loss, since we already own it.

11 years ago
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blindio

i think they should update your gala copy to the latest version personally

11 years ago
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Sisyphus

They know that a certain percentage of people would give away the extra Steam keys, since a lot of people are content owning the game on one service. They see it as every key given away as one less person to purchase it.

11 years ago
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gangnamstyle

Minus a nominal fee, It probably doesn't cost anything to developers

Steam works on a percentage base commission, so they get a fraction of every sale through the steam client.

11 years ago
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Zebeker

As far as I know, developers can generate an unlimited amount of keys at no cost.

In addition to what was said above, yes, some developers will provide steam keys if you email them proof of purchase of some sort, though don't expect it, as many would like you to just buy their game over and over.

11 years ago
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Member

Unlimited keys - yes.
But the devs don't generate them, they've to request a batch of keys from Valve.

11 years ago
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yomisma

I posted on their forum, and they gave me a different excuse this time, also a lame one: see here

11 years ago
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Closed 11 years ago by yomisma.