In addition to Valve refreshing its Upcoming Releases section to prevent developers from constantly refreshing the release date of their games to make them more visible in Steam’s Upcoming Releases list, it has been noticed by a number of publications including PCGN and the Global Offensive subreddit that Valve has quietly implemented a new feature to the Steam Workshop without any formal announcement. It seems that Valve has introduced a new moderator requirement, as you can see from the screenshot below.
u/TanookiSuit3 posted a screenshot of a message that appeared after they had made a submission: “Moderators need to approve the latest version of this item before it will be visible to other players in the Workshop.”
“Newly submitted and updated items will be placed into a moderation queue,” states the updated help page. “You’ll be able to view and edit the content during this process, but other players will not be able to view changes until they’re approved. For updates to existing items, subscribers will have access to the previously approved version if there is one.”
Implications for Content Creators
This new moderation requirement has significant implications for content creators who use the Steam Workshop to share their mods, skins, and other custom content. Previously, creators could update their items and have those changes immediately visible to the community. Now, with the introduction of a moderation queue, there will be a delay between submission and visibility. This could potentially slow down the iterative process that many creators rely on to refine their work based on community feedback.
For example, a modder working on a complex game modification might need to release multiple updates in quick succession to fix bugs and improve features. With the new moderation system, each of these updates will need to be approved before they become available to subscribers, potentially slowing down the development process.
Community Reactions and Future Developments
The community’s reaction to this change has been mixed. Some users appreciate the added layer of quality control, as it can help prevent low-quality or harmful content from flooding the Workshop. Others, however, are concerned about the potential for delays and the impact on the creative process.
On the Global Offensive subreddit, discussions have emerged about the potential benefits and drawbacks of this new system. Some users argue that this could help maintain a higher standard of content on the platform, while others worry about the additional workload for moderators and the possible bottlenecks it could create.
Valve has not yet made a formal announcement regarding this change, leaving many questions unanswered. For instance, how long will the moderation process take? Will there be enough moderators to handle the increased workload? And how will this affect the overall user experience on the Steam Workshop?
As Valve continues to refine its platform, it will be interesting to see how these changes impact both creators and users. The introduction of a moderation queue could be a step towards a more curated and high-quality content environment, but it also raises concerns about efficiency and accessibility.
Source: Eurogamer : Reddit
Images Credit: u/TanookiSuit3, Reddit
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