Finding a game on Steam that looks like yours is stressful, especially before your launch. Here's a practical order of operations. It isn't legal advice. If money or a big launch is at stake, talk to a lawyer who handles games or IP.
1. Don't panic, and don't contact the copier yet
Public call-outs and angry messages can backfire. First work out what was copied and save the evidence while the page is still up.
2. Save evidence with dates
- Save the full store page URL and app id (the number in
store.steampowered.com/app/<id>). - Take full-page screenshots of their page: title, capsule/header art, screenshots, trailer, description, developer and publisher names.
- Note the date and time you first saw it, and the release or “coming soon” date the page shows.
- Collect proof that your work came first: your own store page, dated source files, art files, devlogs and trailer upload dates.
CloneHound's proof pack collects the links, first-seen timestamps and screenshots for you on paid plans.
3. Work out what was actually copied
This decides which route makes sense:
- Copied art, screenshots, trailer, music, store text or code: that's usually a copyright matter. Valve takes copyright notices through its DMCA process.
- Your game's name or your studio name: names are usually a trademark question. One developer reported on X that Steam support said it couldn't act on a cloned studio name without a trademark (post). Rules differ by country, so check with a lawyer.
- Only the idea or a mechanic: generally not something a platform will remove. In October 2026 Valve staff advised developers to build depth that's hard to copy and to report extortion threats to law enforcement (GamesRadar+).
4. Report it to Valve
See our step-by-step guide: How to report a clone on Steam.
5. Tell your community, carefully
A short, factual post works best: link your real page, say you're not connected to the other one, and avoid accusations you can't back up. Pin it on your Steam community hub, Discord and socials so players can find the original.
6. If someone threatens you
If someone demands money in exchange for not copying or for taking a copy down, keep every message. Valve staff said developers should contact Valve and consider law enforcement in those cases (source).
7. Watch for the next one
Copies can reappear under new names. A daily check of newly listed Steam pages catches them early, when reporting is easiest. That's what CloneHound's paid plan does.