Please Keep Cover Images for Delisted Games on User Profiles

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𝒁𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒆𝒍🔘 20 Jul @ 1:15pm

Hello,

I’d like to suggest a change regarding how delisted games appear on Steam profiles.

When a game is removed from the Steam Store (delisted), its cover image disappears from user profiles and game lists. This results in empty or broken-looking entries — even though the game was purchased and is still playable.

While some might suggest "just hide the game" — that’s not a real solution. The goal isn't to hide ownership, but to present the profile cleanly and respectfully, especially for users who care about showcasing their library.

Yes, custom images can be added in Grid View, but:

* Those are only visible privately
* Friends and visitors still see blank tiles
* And many users collect games and care about how their profile looks

Suggestions:

* Keep official cover images visible for owned games, even if delisted
* Allow public display of custom artwork
* Offer cleaner placeholder options instead of showing nothing

Steam profiles are meant to reflect what users play and own. Delisted status shouldn't break the visual identity of games we paid for.

Thanks for considering!

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Originally posted by _galaxy:

Originally posted by Crashed:
If a game is removed by Valve then there may be legal and/or intellectual property implications of continuing to publicly exhibit those materials.

Delisted games are mostly license expiration/remasters released. There is no reason not to keep the image in those cases.

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Showing 1-9 of 9 comments

Crashed 20 Jul @ 2:09pm

If a game is removed by Valve then there may be legal and/or intellectual property implications of continuing to publicly exhibit those materials.

The author of this thread has indicated that this post answers the original topic.

_galaxy 20 Jul @ 2:53pm

Originally posted by Crashed:
If a game is removed by Valve then there may be legal and/or intellectual property implications of continuing to publicly exhibit those materials.

Delisted games are mostly license expiration/remasters released. There is no reason not to keep the image in those cases.

William Shakesman 20 Jul @ 3:35pm

If such a legal issue existed, you could make a fortune DMCAing Gamespot and myriad other game websites for those images.

People need to think a bit more before inventing just-so legal explanations. The lawyer-of-the-gaps theory lol

Crashed 20 Jul @ 3:37pm

Originally posted by _galaxy:
+1

Originally posted by Crashed:
If a game is removed by Valve then there may be legal and/or intellectual property implications of continuing to publicly exhibit those materials.

Delisted games are mostly license expiration/remasters released. There is no reason not to keep the image in those cases.

Are the images disappearing for games that still have an accessible store page? Usually when a game is voluntarily delisted the store page still stays up.

_galaxy 20 Jul @ 4:11pm

Originally posted by Crashed:
Originally posted by _galaxy:
+1

Delisted games are mostly license expiration/remasters released. There is no reason not to keep the image in those cases.
Are the images disappearing for games that still have an accessible store page? Usually when a game is voluntarily delisted the store page still stays up.

Not always

There is also the case of companies like sega delisting games because it "gets in the way of new releases", lol. At least with skyrim, you can find the store page, but not through steam.

Boblin the Goblin 31 Jul @ 2:48pm

Here you go OP.

https://x.com/Wario64/status/1951033904976085471

007Bistromath 31 Jul @ 6:54pm

I keep every grey rectangle in my wishlist there forever as a reminder that we are not free.

Ceana of the Crags 1 Aug @ 7:29am

Originally posted by Crashed:
If a game is removed by Valve then there may be legal and/or intellectual property implications of continuing to publicly exhibit those materials.

Some of these are games that were banned in Germany for lacking an age rating in Germany. I couldn't even see what the game was on my wishlist. Just over night, games were gone. This was last year for me, and for others a few years ago. This was a separate issue from the censorship happening right now.