Steam discount rules: cooldowns, limits, launch deals
29 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
Steam's discount rules are simple one at a time and easy to trip over together: three separate 30-day cooldowns, a launch discount you can only set before release, and seasonal sales that play by different rules. This guide puts them in one place, from Valve's Discounting doc, checked 29 Oct 2026.
Why the rules exist
Valve's aim is pricing transparency. A discount should be measured against either a base price that has been in place for at least 30 days, or a genuine launch price that stays after an introductory offer ends. Valve also says there is a customer at every price point, and that a good discount strategy can help long-term success, while asking you to take your own game and community into account.
The three 30-day cooldowns
Seasonal sales are the exception, only to the third rule. The Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter sales have no discount cooldown, so you can run a discount within 30 days before or after one and still join. A game still in its release or price increase cooldown cannot join. The exemption only covers the sale discounts Valve sets up in your dashboard ahead of each sale; your own discount on the same dates does not get it. See the Winter Sale 2026 guide for the next one.
Limits on size and length
| Discount | Size and length |
|---|---|
| Launch discount | 10% to 40% 7 to 14 days |
| Any other | 10% to 95% 1 to 14 days |
The launch discount
An optional introductory offer that starts when the game releases and runs 7 to 14 days, ending at 10am Pacific. The cap is 40%; Valve generally suggests around 10% to 15% if you set one. It is set in a different place from every other discount: on your app landing page, just below the intended release date. It can only be set up before release, not after.
Moving from Early Access to full release, you can set a launch discount again, unless Early Access began less than 30 days earlier or you raised the base price in the last 30 days. Valve's own example: a 14-day discount ending 14 Sept, followed at once by a price increase, lets both cooldowns run together and end 14 Oct, so the v1.0 launch discount can start 15 Oct. Raising the price at the v1.0 release itself would rule out a launch discount. Valve also suggests announcing price increases ahead of time.
Sources: Discounting. Checked 29 Oct 2026. Valve updates these pages; the Steamworks docs always win.
Self-serve discount types
Set them in the discount dashboard (Apps & Packages, then Discount Management): enter a discount for each package and event and click save. You need the Manage Pricing & Discounts permission and membership of the Steamworks partner that gets paid for the product; a "Server Error" on save may mean you lack permission. You can edit a discount, or delete it by entering 0%, until it starts.
Curated promotions
Valve runs these itself and contacts you if your game qualifies. There are no exact rules; Valve tends to focus on the most-played or best-selling games, and says the slots are not negotiated or sold. They are generally limited to once a calendar year, with at least three months between promotions. The homepage slots include Midweek Deals (72 hours, Monday to Thursday 10am Pacific) and Weekend Deals (96 hours, Thursday to Monday 10am Pacific). For Daily Deals, see Steam Daily Deals: Valve has stopped new invites for now. On 29 Sep 2026 Valve paused scheduling new Midweek, Weekend and Daily Deals ahead of changes planned for early 2027; placements already scheduled are honored, per its Steamworks announcement.
One discount, several events
Valve's second example: one custom discount, 20% from 10 to 20 June, covers a fest, a showcase and a curated slot in that window and creates only one cooldown, ending 20 July. The game can still join a Summer Sale on 27 June, since seasonal sales are exempt. If two events are more than 14 days apart, one discount cannot cover both. Themed fests and showcases can feature a game at full price, but placements built for discounts, such as a Weekend Deal or a seasonal sale, cannot. See Steam themed fests 2027.
Valve's advice on strategy
Valve says its examples are not meant to be prescriptive, and the Sales & Activation reports in Steamworks have the data to plan your own.
Where a broadcast fits
A discount brings shoppers to your store page all at once: through the specials sections, wishlist emails and sale pages. A live broadcast there shows the game running while they decide. Loopcast keeps a store page broadcast running from an uploaded video for the whole sale, billed per minute on air. You can try it free for 7 days, no card needed.
FAQ
How long after release can I discount my game on Steam?
30 days. A product cannot be discounted for 30 days after release, counting both an Early Access release and the full release. The only exception is an optional launch discount, which you set up before release.
How big can a Steam launch discount be?
Up to 40%, running 7 to 14 days from release. Valve generally suggests around 10% to 15% if you set one. You can only set it up before the release date, on your app landing page.
How often can I put my game on sale on Steam?
There must be 30 days between the end of one discount and the start of the next. Seasonal sale discounts (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) are exempt from this cooldown.
What are the minimum and maximum Steam discounts?
A discount must be at least 10% and at most 95%, and run at least 1 day and at most 14 days. It also cannot take the price below Steam's minimum price in any currency.
Can I change my base price while a discount is scheduled?
No. You cannot raise or lower the base price during an active discount or while one is scheduled. A price increase also starts a 30-day cooldown before your next discount; a decrease does not.
Do I have to join Steam sales?
No. Valve says there is nothing you are required to participate in. Self-serve discounts start on their own at the time you set; curated ones are proposed by Valve for your approval.