How to pitch a video game to Valve

In its own words

“However, Valve does not accept or consider any material for use in any of its products (including, but not limited to, demos, sketches, drawings, notes, stories, and game or character ideas), that has not been specifically requested by Valve.”

“This submission path is designed to provide a streamlined, transparent, and affordable route for new game developers from anywhere in the world to bring games to Steam.”

What you agree to by sending something

“If you ignore this request, any such materials, comments, suggestions or other information submitted by you to Valve will become the property of Valve, with Valve exclusively owning all known and hereafter existing rights to such materials, and you acknowledge and agree not to contest Valve's rights to use and disclose such materials in any manner and for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, without compensation to…”

What it has bought from outside

1. 1998

   TF Software (Team Fortress mod) from the mod's makers

   “…In 1998, Valve acquired TF Software, a group that had made the popular Team Fortress mod for Quake, and remade it for GoldSrc as Team Fortress Classic in 1999.…” en.wikipedia.org

2. 2000

   Counter-Strike (mod) from Le and Cliffe, the mod's creators

   “Valve went on to acquire the game's intellectual property and announced a partnership with Le and Cliffe.” en.wikipedia.org

3. Narbacular Drop team (became Portal) from DigiPen students

   “Gabe Newell, managing director of Valve, took interest in the team's work and employed the whole staff at Valve.” en.wikipedia.org

4. 2008

   Turtle Rock Studios (Left 4 Dead) from its founders

   “…In January 2008, Valve announced the acquisition of Turtle Rock Studios,…” en.wikipedia.org

5. 2009

   DotA (became Dota 2) from mod developer IceFrog

   “IceFrog was eventually hired by Valve in 2009, with the rights to the DotA intellectual property being sold to Valve the following year.” en.wikipedia.org

Other companies that take a video game

• 

  Microsoft XboxHas a submission portalXbox publishes independent developers’ games through ID@Xbox, with support and resources to launch them.

• 

  NintendoHas a submission portalNintendo does not accept game or product ideas it did not ask for.

• 

  Sony Interactive (PlayStation)Has a submission portalPlayStation invites game developers and publishers to register at partners.playstation.net.
• Devolver DigitalHas a submission portalDevolver takes game pitches at pitch.devolverdigital.com, now for games releasing in 2028 or later.

• 

  Activision BlizzardDoes not take outside ideasBlizzard refuses to accept or look at any submissions or ideas it did not ask for, including expansions, novels and screenplays.

• 

  Electronic ArtsDoes not take outside ideasElectronic Arts does not accept product ideas, game concepts or music it did not ask for, and returns or deletes any it receives.

• 

  Square EnixDoes not take outside ideasSquare Enix and its employees do not accept creative works or ideas they did not ask for, and it may use anything sent without pay.

• 

  UbisoftDoes not take outside ideasUbisoft’s policy bars the company and its staff from accepting or considering ideas it did not ask for.

All of them, open doors first