Zoroarts, the 22-year-old solo developer behind Paddle Paddle Paddle, is highlighting a significant issue for creators of shorter games on Steam. According to the developer, his third-person boat-paddling adventure has seen 55,000 refunds out of 262,000 total copies sold in its first year, largely because the game can be completed in under two hours.
The issue stems from Valve’s consumer-friendly refund policy. Under the current rules, any user who has owned a game for less than 14 days and has played for less than two hours can request a refund for any reason. While this protects consumers from poor-quality purchases, Zoroarts argues it creates a difficult environment for developers whose games are designed to be concise experiences.
The Impact of Short Playtimes
Paddle Paddle Paddle was originally intended to offer about three-and-a-half hours of gameplay. However, the game has become popular with speedrunners and players seeking a challenge, many of whom reach the credits well before the two-hour mark. Despite the high volume of refunds, the game maintains a 90 percent positive review score, with many players expressing that they enjoyed the game even after requesting their money back.
Zoroarts noted on X that the 21 percent refund rate is particularly frustrating given the overwhelmingly positive reception. With a full price of $5 and frequent sales at $3, the developer estimates a loss of roughly $154,000 in potential income after accounting for the standard Steam fee. A significant portion of this revenue would have gone to the game’s publisher, Assemble.
Proposed Changes to the Refund Policy
In response to the situation, Zoroarts has suggested that Valve should adjust how the policy applies to shorter titles. His proposal includes displaying expected completion times on the Steam store page. If a game is officially listed as being under two hours long, he suggests that “too short” should be removed as a valid reason for a refund.
This is the second game from Zoroarts, following his 2023 release Makis Adventure. While he has reached out to Valve regarding the issue, no official changes to the refund system have been announced. Whether Valve will address the disparity between play-length and refund eligibility remains a point of concern for indie developers creating shorter, high-impact experiences.