How to Publish Your Game on itch.io and Steam
A step-by-step checklist for publishing an indie game on itch.io and Steam: store pages, builds, pricing, wishlists and launch day.
Shipping is a skill of its own. Here is a practical path from finished build to a live store page.
Start on itch.io
itch.io is the fastest way to get your game in front of players.
- Create a project page and upload a zipped build or an HTML5 export.
- Add at least five screenshots, a short GIF and a clear one-line pitch.
- Choose a pricing model: free, paid, or pay-what-you-want.
- Tag your game accurately. Tags drive most discovery on itch.io.
Use itch.io for game jam entries, demos and early feedback before a bigger launch.
Moving to Steam
Before you pay the fee
- Have a capsule image that reads at thumbnail size.
- Record a trailer that shows gameplay in the first five seconds.
- Write a store description that leads with what the player does.
Wishlists are everything
Open your Steam page months before launch. Wishlists tell Steam's algorithm there is demand, and wishlisters get an email when you release.
Launch checklist
- Test the build on a clean machine.
- Set a launch discount of 10–20%.
- Plan a demo for a Steam Next Fest.
- Line up content creators with keys a week early.
After launch
Reply to reviews, ship a quick patch for any bugs players report, and share progress updates. Games that keep improving keep selling.