In a short, precise and to the point update, Valve have outlined some tweaks to the Steam gifting service. Some of which are most decidedly welcome, others are actually a bit of a pisser, truth be told.

Coming in three parts, the changes include scheduling, which is pretty darn nifty actually. It does not specify that this is solely for upcoming, unreleased titles, it would seem that the idea is more around preparing ahead of time, for example, knowing your sister really wants the latest Call of Duty, and it’s her birthday in two months, or if your broseph wants Pony Island adventures, but won’t be back from Afghanistan until; March or something. It will allow you to schedule the gifting months in advance and ensure they arrive precisely when they’re supposed to be. However, should a gift be declined, things have been tightened up so that the funds will be immediately added back to the gifting account. Rather than the game sneakily planting itself in your Steam inventory and forming an alliance with your Counter-Strike loot crates.

Lastly, cross country gifting has been changed to, sadly, flat out refuse to allow games to be sent when there is a significant price difference. Which is nice in that you don’t have to worry about the gift not being delivered, but my wife used to life in the Philippines, before we married. Game prices were really low there, still are even, and whilst I can understand Valve not wanting to lose out on potential remuneration for a purchase made, then sent to the UK. What if my wife was still there, and she wanted to send me something for my birthday? She should not be stopped from doing so. Rather, I suggest an alternate method. Block such international gifting by all means, by default, but then include an option to purchase a game at the destination’s price point, then forward it on that way.

Simples!