Connect with us

Gaming

Steam Is Now Offering Refunds

blank

Published

on

steam-game-ban

Valve has finally changed its much-loathed refund policy for Steam. It will now accept requests for refunds for any games, for any reason. The only parameters are that you can’t have bought the game more than 14 days ago and can’t have played it for more than two hours.

Refunds can be requested through a new page on the Steam Support site which lists a myriad of reasons for why you might want to return an item. Steam will even give refunds for DLC and in-game purchases for Valve games such as Team Fortress 2 (provided they were purchased less than 48 hours ago).

“You can request a refund for nearly any purchase on Steam—for any reason. Maybe your PC doesn’t meet the hardware requirements; maybe you bought a game by mistake; maybe you played the title for an hour and just didn’t like it,” Valve said in a post on the Steam site.

Refunds will not be given for movies or gifts that have already been redeemed. Additionally, users caught cheating by the Valve Anti-Cheat system will not be eligible for refunds.

“Refunds are designed to remove the risk from purchasing titles on Steam—not as a way to get free games,” Valve said. “If it appears to us that you are abusing refunds, we may stop offering them to you. We do not consider it abuse to request a refund on a title that was purchased just before a sale and then immediately rebuying that title for the sale price.”

The move to allow refunds comes after years of user complaints about Steam’s relatively anti-refund policy. Until today, many aspects of Steam’s license agreement have flown in the face of consumer laws in several countries. Steam was not alone in this – many online retailers of games have similar agreements, and their international status has meant they can generally get away with some fairly consumer-unfriendly practices. However, some countries are starting to crack down on these stores, such as last month when Australia forced Origin to change its refund policy (but only for Australian customers).

While the more cynical among us may see Valve’s shift as nothing more than an attempt to beat the tide of dissent over its largely unfair policies, the fact is that any move towards consumer fairness on Steam is good for everyone. Users will feel more confident about trying out new games if they know they can get a refund, which will bring obvious benefits to developers, particularly the smaller ones.

Rhiannon likes video games and she likes writing, so she decided to combine them. As well as writing about video games, she also belts out the occasional science fiction or fantasy story, edits videos, and eats strawberry oreos. In that order.

Gaming

Documentary Explores the Making of the Highly Praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for PS5

blank

Published

on

blank

Square Enix has launched a captivating documentary series that explores the intricate process behind the creation of the highly praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. In the first episode, titled “Shaping the World,” the developer delves into the process of reimagining the expansive PS1 map of the original game into a vast sandbox for the PS5. The film includes personal stories shared by directors Naoki Hamaguchi and Tetsuya Nomura, as well as other important members of the team.

This reimagining of the all-time PlayStation classic was truly enjoyable. In our review, we praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for its ability to enhance the already impressive combat system of Remake. The game truly shines in its portrayal of an iconic RPG setting. If you have a deep appreciation for the original PS1 game and found enjoyment in Remake, then Rebirth’s character-focused adventure will surely captivate you from start to finish.

Continue Reading

Gaming

Gran Turismo 7 for the PS5 and PS4 shows continuous improvement

blank

Published

on

blank

While Sony may not classify Gran Turismo 7 as a live-service game, the team at Polyphony Digital certainly approaches it with a similar mindset. The game continues to impress with every new update, and although v1.44 may be smaller compared to previous versions, it still manages to enhance the already extensive content of this simulation racer.

The update, now available worldwide, introduces three new cars: the Audi R8 Coupé V10 Plus ’16, the Lamborghini Urus ’18, and the Toyota GT-One (TS020) ’99. Furthermore, it introduces three fresh events to World Circuits, an extra menu to conquer in the GT Café single-player campaign, and a collection of livery stickers inspired by the upcoming Highspeed Étoile anime, set to debut next week in Japan.

If you’re not already acquainted with Highspeed Étoile, you can watch a trailer right here. “Sony has announced that a collection of 26 stickers, consisting of 8 title logos and 18 main character stickers, will be made available for a limited time,” stated Sony on the PS Blog. In addition, Fukushima will be included as a backdrop in the title’s beloved photography mode.

Continue Reading

Gaming

TopSpin 2K25 appears to be a standout title in the recent PS5 and PS4 gameplay showcase

blank

Published

on

blank

This author has consistently praised the realistic portrayal of tennis in TopSpin 4. After more than a decade, we are thrilled to witness the release of TopSpin 2K25, which expands upon the success of its renowned predecessor. This gameplay video provides a comprehensive overview of the features discussed in our recent preview while also incorporating relevant footage to enhance understanding.

The series’ swing system sets it apart from arcade-style games like Virtua Tennis, as it requires players to charge up their shots in a different way. In order to succeed, timing is crucial, and fortunately, a new meter above your player will assist you in achieving that. Surfaces have their own distinct characteristics, such as clay, where you’ll experience a noticeable amount of sliding.

The game ensures that every player has a distinct set of animations, adding a touch of individuality to each competitor. The courts, found in all Grand Slams, possess a remarkable amount of individuality and charm. It is mentioned in the video that with each in-game season, players can expect a plethora of additional content, such as animation packs. This indicates that there will be plenty to anticipate even after the game’s initial release.

Continue Reading

Trending