Steam free weekends: rules, timing and setup
27 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
A Free Weekend lets anyone play your full paid game for free for a few days, usually over a long weekend. It is not something you switch on yourself: Valve approves it, and Valve is selective. Here is how it works, who it suits and how to set one up, from Valve's Free Weekends documentation, checked 27 Oct 2026.
Free Weekend, demo or free to play
Valve draws the line clearly. A demo is a separate build on a separate App ID. A Free Weekend grants full access to your base game on its own App ID, for a limited time. A free to play game is free all the time.
| Option | What players get | For how long |
|---|---|---|
| Free Weekend | Your full base game, same App ID | For a few days, then uninstall-only |
| Demo | A separate demo App ID and build | As long as you keep it active |
| Free to play | The whole game, always | Always |
Sources: Free Weekends, Discounting. Checked 27 Oct 2026. Valve updates these pages; the Steamworks docs always win.
Who gets one
A Free Weekend needs approval from the Steam Team. Valve says there are no exact rules, but as a base guideline it tends to focus on the most-played or best-selling games on Steam. It is also frank that not every game is a good fit: players already have plenty of free to play games and free demos every day, so making a paid game free for a few days does not guarantee interest.
Valve says Free Weekends tend to work best for games with lots of replayable content, or with strong multiplayer that benefits from a wave of new players, for example better matchmaking. To ask, contact Valve with your game's details and the timing you want, at least one month in advance. Eligible games can run one Free Weekend per calendar year.
How it works for players
During the event, a free package appears on your store page next to the normal paid one, with a callout showing how much time is left. It uses the same App ID and depots as your game. When the weekend ends, Steam removes the free package. Players keep the game in their library, but can only uninstall it: to keep playing, they buy the full version.
Timing
Setup
Once approved, the Steam Team creates a special Free Weekend package, which you can find under All Associated Packages, Free Weekend Packages, on your app's landing page. Steam activates and removes it automatically. Your part:
Valve's best practices
Promotion is not included. By default, Valve says, Free Weekends are not promoted anywhere on the store aside from your game's own store page. That is why they are usually combined with a curated discount such as a Daily Deal or Weekend Deal, which Steam does promote.
Reviews, cheating and trading cards
Free Weekend players can leave a review, but it is marked as a non-Steam purchase: readable, but not counted in your review score unless they buy. They get no trading card drops. If you worry about cheating or your ranked players, the ISteamApps call BIsSubscribedFromFreeWeekend tells you who is playing through the Free Weekend, so you can limit modes or keep them out of ranked matchmaking. Using it is optional.
Measuring it
After the event, Valve's Free Weekend dashboard shows participation, conversion rates and other metrics, at partner.steampowered.com/freeweekend/ followed by your App ID. Valve adds that not every benefit shows up there: more players, more familiarity and more discussion of the game can last well after the weekend.
Make the store page carry the weekend
Since the store page is the one place a Free Weekend is guaranteed to appear, it is where the extra visitors decide whether to try or buy. A broadcast at the top of the page shows the game being played while they do. Loopcast keeps one running from an uploaded video, with no PC left on at home, billed per minute on air. You can try it free for 7 days, no card needed.
FAQ
How do I get a Steam Free Weekend?
Contact Valve with your game's details and the timing you want, at least a month in advance. A Free Weekend needs approval from the Steam Team, and Valve says it tends to focus on the most-played or best-selling games.
When does a Steam Free Weekend run?
Typically from Thursday at 10 AM Pacific to Monday at 10 AM Pacific. Valve generally does not run them midweek and suggests at least four days.
How often can I run a Free Weekend?
Eligible games can run a Free Weekend once per calendar year.
Can Free Weekend players review my game?
Yes, but the review is marked as a non-Steam purchase. Other players can read it, but it does not count toward your review score unless the player buys the game.
Is a Free Weekend promoted on the Steam store?
Not by default. Valve says Free Weekends are not promoted anywhere on the store aside from your game's own store page, which is why they are usually paired with a curated discount such as a Daily Deal or Weekend Deal.