Steam Refund Policy Under Fire: Indie Dev Speaks Out

Mateo Covic, the solo developer behind the indie game Paddle Paddle Paddle, has found himself at the center of a heated controversy surrounding Steam’s refund policy. Covic’s game, a very-low-budget Split Fiction, has been the subject of thousands of refunds, with many players taking to the Steam review section to brag about completing the game in under two hours before requesting a refund.

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However, Covic’s initial response to the situation sparked a backlash, with many players and developers defending the right to refund a game after completing it. In an interview, Covic clarified his stance, stating that he wasn’t unhappy about the number of refunds or the money lost, but rather the attitude of some players who seemed to take pleasure in refunding the game after enjoying it.

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Covic explained that the 20% refund rate on Paddle Paddle Paddle is actually pretty normal for a ‘rage game’ – the sort of thing streamers like to play and performatively scream about. He emphasized that he wasn’t upset about the refund rate itself, but rather the way some players were using the refund system to express their dissatisfaction with the game’s difficulty.

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The developer expressed his frustration with the lack of constructive feedback from players who refunded the game, citing comments such as ‘game too difficult’ without offering any helpful suggestions for improvement. Covic wished that players would write more useful comments to help him improve the game, rather than simply refunding it.

Despite the controversy surrounding his tweet, Covic has chosen not to delete it, stating that he’s ‘not gonna hide this mistake.’ He also recommended Simon Carless’ Game Discovery Co. newsletter, which dives deep into the topic of Steam refund figures.

Covic’s game, Paddle Paddle Paddle, has sold 150,000 copies on Steam since its launch in July 2025, with a peak concurrent player count of 401. The game’s sales trajectory hasn’t been impacted by the current controversy, although Covic has been receiving hateful DMs and review bombing his game.

The developer is currently working on a roguelite called Rogue Jungle, which is expected to be released later this year.

In the meantime, Covic’s comments on the Steam refund policy have sparked a wider discussion about the ethics of refunding games after completing them. While some argue that it’s a player’s right to refund a game, others see it as a way to take advantage of the system and express dissatisfaction without offering any constructive feedback.

The debate highlights the complexities of the Steam refund policy and the need for a more nuanced approach to handling refunds. As the gaming community continues to evolve, it’s clear that the issue of refunds will remain a contentious topic for some time to come.