Steam distribution agreement change: no more exclusive poaching?

[BeI]

Apparently this is a new bit of text in Steam's distribution agreement, suggesting that games available on Steam and planning to launch there need to do it at the same time as other third party locations (although the part about 30 days sounds confusing).

Company shall submit the applications to Steam for release no later than the first commercial release of each application or localised version, or if already commercially released as of the effective date, with thirty (30) days of the effective date. Thereafter, company shall submit to Steam ang localised versions and application updates (in beta and final form) when available, but in no event later than they are provided to any other third party for commercial release. Company shall provide these copies in object code form, in whatever format Valve reasonably requests.

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Here's the reddit thread it came from, with a picture from the agreement : https://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/d15di2/valve_has_added_new_stipulation_to_distribution/

Potentially a good thing if it can stop games from using Steam for free advertising?

 

[GrrImAFridge]

Fake:

The SDA was last updated at the beginning of December, a few days before EGS was announced and just under two months before the Metro Exodus snafu.

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Edit: To clarify, the text is real, but it is not a new addition and doesn't refer to store exclusivity deals.

 

[Deleted member 23212]

I have no idea what this will mean, because it's one thing for this to be a rule and another thing for it to be enforced.

 

[Deleted member 23212]

Fake:

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Well, there goes what I said, enforcement is what matters, not some piece of text.

 

[BeI]

Fake:

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Dang that was fast. Why's it popping back up now then? Oh well. May as well lock the thread then.