100% certain that download time does not count towards play time.

It is in fact far more likely that the game/program did not close correctly and kept running in the background for a few hours more...

Which game?

For the majority of games download time is not counted as the game exe needs to running to track time.

Originally posted by drsxzgsa:

100% certain that download time does not count towards play time.

If a game has a launcher that downloads the game, it does.

And OP, it counts cause "play time" is simply "time the connected .exe has been opened". Nothing more, nothing less.

Edit: Also, make a manual ticket. Steam Support knows of launchers, you'll get your refund.

Make a manual ticket. As others have already stated, some games have in-game launchers that take ages to download the game (MMOs and Live-Service games in general are the worst offenders usually).

Explain that the time was spent downloading the game in the launcher-not playing. You should get a refund.

Link: https://help.steampowered.com/en/

Is it also the one purchased on September 17, 2025?

Thanks for your info. I have tried a number of times to get a refund and keep on getting different refusal answers. I seem to be talking to AI rather than a human. This is my first purchase from Steam and I am not impressed with the level of support. I think I will count my losses and never use this platform again. IN the future I will only purchase direct from the creator.

Originally posted by dharmamati:

Thanks for your info. I have tried a number of times to get a refund and keep on getting different refusal answers. I seem to be talking to AI rather than a human. This is my first purchase from Steam and I am not impressed with the level of support. I think I will count my losses and never use this platform again. IN the future I will only purchase direct from the creator.

Or maybe create a manual ticket for refund?
Manual refund:
Help > Purchases > click on game > "i've question about ..." > fill contact form