Steam Personal Calendar: how games get on it, and what takes them off
30 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
The Steam Personal Calendar shows each player recent and upcoming releases they are likely to want. Every player's calendar is different and none of it is hand-picked. This guide covers where it shows, how a game gets on it, the timing rules and what removes a game, from Valve's Personal Calendar doc, checked 30 Oct 2026.
Where players see it
| Where | What it shows | Valve's tip to be eligible |
|---|---|---|
| Store front page | This week, two weeks back and two weeks ahead | Release date set at least 3 weeks ahead |
| Dedicated calendar page | Eight weeks of releases | Release date set at least 60 days ahead |
Players browse day by day and click through to the store page of any game.
What makes a game eligible
A visible Coming Soon page with a specific release date, for a full release or for the move from Early Access to 1.0. Games and software can appear; demos cannot; DLC appears only for players who own the base game.
Sources: Personal Calendar. Checked 30 Oct 2026. Valve updates these pages; the Steamworks docs always win.
How games are picked
No wishlist threshold. More wishlists make a game more likely to appear, but there is no minimum, and Valve checks that counted wishlists come from real, valid accounts. Because each calendar is personal, smaller games are not shut out. If the review score falls to Mostly Negative, the game is much less likely to be recommended, as elsewhere in Steam's algorithmic visibility.
How a store page turns visitors into wishlists is in do broadcasts help wishlists.
Timing and the delay rule
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Coming Soon page live with a specific date | Can appear within about a day |
| Within five weeks of launch, date public | May already be on players' calendars |
| Within two weeks of launch | A delay of more than 24 hours removes it until release |
| Released on a Saturday or Sunday | Shown on the following Monday (the calendar shows Monday to Friday) |
You can change the release date after the game has appeared, for a full release or Early Access to 1.0. Changes under 24 hours and moving the date earlier do not affect the calendar. A delay of more than 24 hours inside the last two weeks takes the game off until it releases. Release date steps sit in the Steam launch checklist.
Where a broadcast fits
A calendar click lands on your store page, and a broadcast there shows the game moving, which is where a wishlist or a purchase happens. Loopcast keeps a store page broadcast running from an uploaded video, billed per minute on air. You can try it free for 7 days, no card needed.
FAQ
How many wishlists does a game need to appear on the Steam calendar?
There is no minimum. More wishlists make it more likely, but each calendar is personalized, so it is not based on total wishlist counts.
How far ahead should I set my release date for the Personal Calendar?
Valve's tip: at least 60 days ahead to be eligible for the dedicated calendar page, and at least three weeks ahead for the front page.
What happens if I delay my release on the calendar?
If you delay by more than 24 hours once the game is within two weeks of launch, it is removed and does not appear again until it releases. Smaller changes, and moving the date earlier, do not affect it.
Can Valve add my game to the calendar by hand?
No. The calendar is not hand-curated; featuring is automatic, based on player behavior and wishlists.
Do demos and DLC appear on the Personal Calendar?
Demos do not. DLC can, but only for players who own the base game.