Steam product keys: the types, the limits and Valve's rules
29 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Steam product keys are single-use codes that add your game to a player's Steam account. Valve gives them free so you can sell on other stores and at retail, or hand them to beta testers, press and influencers. This guide covers the key types, the limits and Valve's rules, from the Steam Keys doc, checked 29 Oct 2026. (Not your Steam stream key, the RTMP token a broadcast uses: that is how to get your Steam stream key.)
First game on Steam? You can request Steam product keys three weeks after your App ID was created.
The three types of Steam product keys
Keys are always requested from a specific package, as one of three types:
| Type | What it is for | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Default Release | Retail boxes and sales on other stores. Activate any time; the game unlocks at release. | Up to 5,000 for launch, then case by case |
| Release State Override | Access before release: small beta tests, press and influencers. Never sold. | Generally 2,500 in total |
| Developer Autogrant (dev comp) | Developer accounts that are not in your Steamworks partner group. Not for testing, never for customers. | A small number, often none |
For a playtest bigger than a few thousand players, Valve points to Steam Playtest instead of beta keys; Playtest vs demo compares the options.
Sources: Steam Keys. Checked 29 Oct 2026. Valve updates these pages; the Steamworks docs always win.
Valve's rules for Steam keys
The core rule: sell keys on other stores in a similar way to how you sell on Steam, and never give Steam customers a worse deal than key buyers.
When Valve reviews a request, it looks at the interest in the game on Steam, how many keys were already issued and activated, and how many more you ask for. Valve's example of an imbalance that gets rejected: a game with a few hundred lifetime sales asking for tens of thousands of keys. Requesting extreme numbers without a comparable Steam deal can cost you the right to request keys.
Crowdfunding backers
Playtest keys
Steam Playtest is free for players and developers. You can request keys for your playtest app, but you must never charge for playtest access, sell playtest keys or put them in paid key bundles or subscriptions.
Requesting, tagging and banning keys
Never ban keys that were legitimately sold. Valve lists the right cases: an ended beta, unused keys, refunded keys, and stolen or fraudulently bought keys.
Valve's advice
Where a broadcast fits
Press and influencers with keys send people to your store page, and a live broadcast there shows the game the moment they arrive. 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 Steam product keys can I get?
Up to 5,000 Default Release keys for launch, then case by case with no guarantee. Release State Override (beta) keys are generally limited to 2,500 in total.
When can I request Steam keys for my first game?
Three weeks after the App ID was created, if it is your first game on Steam.
Can I give Steam keys away for free?
Only if Steam customers get the same deal, unless the giveaway is very small: under 100 keys.
Do Steam beta keys expire when the game releases?
No. Keys do not expire on their own, and players who activated a beta key before release keep the game. You can ban keys to end a closed beta.
Can I sell Steam keys on other stores at a different price?
You can run discounts on other stores at different times, as long as Steam customers get a comparable offer within a reasonable time. Steam customers should never get a worse deal than key buyers.