Working Steam Account serial key or number

Overview

Types of Keys

• Standard
  This is the most common type of key on Steam, which is usually tied to a store or Steam Key package. These keys are appropriate for retail boxes or sales on other sites. These keys will unlock the product once it has been released and marked as playable on Steam.
  
• Release Override
  These keys are used to grant access to a product prior to its release on Steam. Release Override keys are intended for small beta tests and press/influencer access. We will look at each request on a case by case basis, and in general less than keys work well for this purpose. It is never OK to sell release-override beta keys.
  
• Dev Comp (or devcomp)
  These keys are intended for developer use only. They are used to automatically provide developers with access to the product. You should not need more than a handful of Dev Comp keys.
  NOTE: Dev Comp keys should never be distributed to customers.

Steam Key Rules and Guidelines

• You should use keys to sell your game on other stores in a similar way to how you sell your game on Steam. It is important that you don't give Steam customers a worse deal.
  
  
• It's OK to run a discount on different stores at different times as long as you plan to give a comparable offer to Steam customers within a reasonable amount of time.
  
  
• Occasionally it may make sense to offer your game in a bundle or subscription, timed at the right point in a game's life cycle. Keep in mind that the perceived price in the bundle/subscription should be a price you are willing to run the game at a standalone price or discount on Steam. Philosophically, you can think about it like any other discount: if you’re making an aggressive offer in one place, make it elsewhere too. We want to avoid a situation where customers get a worse offer on the Steam store, so feel free to reach out to us via the Developer Support tool if you want to talk through a specific scenario.
  
  
• Steam keys shouldn't be given away for free if you aren't also offering the same deal (i.e., give the game away for free) to Steam customers. If you want to run a giveaway on Steam, please reach out to us at Steampublish@cromwellpsi.com
  
  
• Steam keys shouldn't be sold in bulk. For example, you should not sell your game on sites that offer customers the option to purchase large numbers of copies of your game for a lower price. You should also not include your game in bundles on sites that allow customers to purchase multiple copies of the bundle for a lower price.
  
  
• We reserve the right to deny requests for keys or revoke key requesting privileges for partners that are abusing them or disadvantaging Steam customers.
  
  
• If we detect that you have requested an extreme number of keys and you aren't offering Steam customers a good value, we may deny your request.
  
  
• We reserve the right to remove key requesting privileges from any partner whose sole business is selling Steam keys and not providing value or a fair deal to Steam customers.
  
  Keys cannot be generated for the following:
  
  • "Free" products
    If you want to give away keys for a free package or something that will never go on sale (event giveaways, special promotions, etc), please contact Valve.
    
  • Steam Bundles
    Steam keys cannot be generated for Steam bundles. You will need to generate keys for the individual apps in the bundle.

Using Keys

Requesting Keys

Retrieving Keys

Tagging Keys

Querying Keys

Banning Keys

Additional Guidelines

• Request keys in small batches.
  Think carefully about how many keys you need. You may want to work with a smaller amount of keys and request more if necessary. Only provide as many keys to third party distributors as they will reasonably need. If you or any of your distributors make a mistake or something happens with those keys, you'll be in better shape if you don't have to worry about a large number of stolen keys. In general, you should treat keys like cash.
  
  
• Be cautious with your Steam keys.
  We've heard many reports of fraudsters impersonating journalists or storefronts to acquire keys, and then reselling those keys for profit.
  
  
• Pre-Purchases.
  We generally discourage developers from running pre-purchase offers on Steam. If you offer your product for pre-purchase outside of Steam, and that pre-purchase grants the user a Steam product key, those keys should unlock your product at the same time it is made available for purchase via Steam.
  
  
• Beta Testing
  Keys are a great way to let players into your game early for testing or closed alpha/beta access. If you plan to run a larger beta that requires more than a few thousand release override keys, please reach out to Steam directly.
  
  
• Bundles off Steam.
  You are free to use keys to distribute your product via bundle offers off Steam. We've learned from developers that pay-what-you-want bundles are a great revenue opportunity when your product is very far along its life cycle.
  
  As with any system that distributes your product keys, there is a non-trivial risk that bundle purchasers will actively resell keys to your product and undercut your full-price sales. Participating in a bundle is equivalent to running it at a very deep discount, and can damage the effectiveness of future promotions. Consult our Discounts & Promotions Best Practices documentation for more information.
  
  
• Crowdfunding.
  Keys can be used to fulfill crowdfunding rewards and grant backers access to your product. Providing backers with beta testing keys prior to release is also OK, but only backers should receive those keys --they shouldn’t be sold outside of the crowdfunding campaign unless your beta is also available for sale via Steam.
  
  Steam keys can only be promoted as a reward for products that have already confirmed Steam distribution -- it’s not OK to use the Valve or Steam logos to market a product that is not currently under Steam Distribution Agreement. For ongoing crowdfunding that does not have a set end date, it is only OK to sell Steam keys if the product is also available for purchase via Steam at no higher than it is offered via your crowdfunding campaign. If you are selling Steam keys for a beta or early access version of your product, you must follow the early access requirements listed below.
  
  
• Keys and Early Access Titles.
  If you are requesting Steam keys to distribute or sell your Early Access title outside of Steam, you will need to include the materials specified in the Steam Early Access Branding Requirements.
  
  Please note that Steam keys cannot be sold on other sites unless the product is also available for purchase on Steam at no higher a price than is offered on any other service or website.

FAQ

You can add a 3DMark Advanced Edition license key to Steam. The process varies depending on the type of key you have. It is not possible to activate Professional Edition licenses on Steam.

For a license that starts with 3DM-ICF-

To add a 3DMark Advanced Edition license that starts with 3DM-ICF- to Steam, open the Steam client, click the "+ADD A GAME" button at the bottom of the window, then "ACTIVATE A PRODUCT ON STEAM," and then follow the instructions.

For a license that starts with 3DM-ICFT-

To add a 3DMark Advanced Edition license that starts with 3DM-ICFT- to Steam, first create an account on cromwellpsi.com or log in to your existing account. If your cromwellpsi.com account does not have a Steam sign-in associated with it, you need to add the Steam sign-in method to your account before you can add your license key. Next, go the Settings page, add your license key in the box under ADD 3DMARK UPGRADE WITH TIME SPY TO YOUR STEAM LIBRARY, and then click on the SUBMIT button. This action can be performed only once for a license key.

For an upgrade license that starts with 3DM-ICFTP-

To add a 3DMark Advanced Edition license that starts with 3DM-ICFTP- to Steam, first create an account on cromwellpsi.com or log in to your existing account. If your cromwellpsi.com account does not have a Steam sign-in associated with it, you need to add the Steam sign-in method to your account before you can add your license key. Next, go to the Settings page, add your license key in the box under ADD 3DMARK UPGRADE WITH PORT ROYAL TO YOUR STEAM LIBRARY, and then click on the SUBMIT button. This action can be performed only once for a license key.

For an upgrade license that starts with 3DM-SPY-

To add a 3DMark Advanced Edition Time Spy upgrade license that starts with 3DM-SPY- to Steam, first create an account on cromwellpsi.com or log in to your existing account. If your cromwellpsi.com account does not have a Steam sign-in associated with it, you need to add the Steam sign-in method to your account before you can add your license key. Next, go the Settings page, add your license key in the box under ADD 3DMARK TIME SPY UPGRADE TO YOUR STEAM LIBRARY, and then click on the SUBMIT button. Please note that you must already own 3DMark Advanced Edition in your Steam account for this option to be available. This action can be performed only once for a license key.

For an upgrade license that starts with 3DM-PR-

To add a 3DMark Advanced Edition Port Royal upgrade license that starts with 3DM-PR- to Steam, first create an account on cromwellpsi.com or log in to your existing account. If your cromwellpsi.com account does not have a Steam sign-in associated with it, you need to add the Steam sign-in method to your account before you can add your license key. Next, go to the Settings page, add your license key in the box under ADD 3DMARK PORT ROYAL UPGRADE TO YOUR STEAM LIBRARY, and then click on the SUBMIT button. Please note that you must already own 3DMark Advanced Edition in your Steam account for this option to be available. This action can be performed only once for a license key.

For a license that looks like XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

When you buy 3DMark from a third-party retailer or software bundle, you will usually get a Steam key that has three groups of five letters and numbers formatted as XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. To add this type of key to Steam, open the Steam client, click the "+ADD A GAME" button at the bottom of the window, then "ACTIVATE A PRODUCT ON STEAM," and then follow the instructions.