Well, it's not on sale, is it? Since you're not selling the game here. But look on your game's edit page, under App store links. (Edit: below the tags.) You can use those to show a nice big button that sends people to Steam, and that's that.
Of course, it would be even better if you sold the actual game here and offered a Steam key on the side. We have an external key system just for that. But if you don't want to, that's fine.
I see the Steam link that you mentioned, I think I configured this right (I see a link to Steam in game details think thats the way its suppossed to work) thanks for explanation.
And about the external keys, I think I need to ask something that maybe I got wrong, so is it allowed to sell here the Steam keys without having the game files here? like someone goes here clicks buy the game and gets the key alone?
I configured the steam link under tags where you mentioned in your other post, tried the metadata path and the link looks the same, well anyway its correct either way I guess. About steam keys, then I got it wrong Im sorry, I read in someone's post here somewhere that he wanted to sell only the Steam keys because of security issues, meaning that Steam theoritically makes it a bit harder for the pirates to get the whole game files and place them somewhere for the people to get, but seeing what you just said I think he was wrong too as its pointless in terms of security to have the keys if the game has to be sold here together with the game, right? then if I want to only spread Steam keys with the users I cant do much more here, right? I mean since its not on sale here I just can keep the game page that directs people to Steam but in that case I assume it wont appear in search or other lists as its not on sale, correct me if Im wrong please and again sorry for trouble.
You're right, if you're not selling the game here, then the Itch.io page is only for marketing. Even if it doesn't appear in searches, you can still post devlogs, release announcements and so on. People can put your games in collections, and it will be recommended to others.
It's curious however that the app store link doesn't show a nice big button like it should. Are you sure you're putting the link in the right place? It looks as if you just duplicated the link in metadata.
I see, well I will remain like this for now, somehow I didnt use to fear piracy when I was making smaller games but now I have put like 2 years of my life in a game I fear that too much maybe so I prefer to concentrate the files in one place where theoritically they are a bit safer (although I know piracy reaches all places). So I will do as you said and for now keep the page there without anything on sale.
About the button its odd, as you said it looks like I duplicatted the button but I added the later with the metadata and the other with the link under tags but they look the same, I will delete both and retry just in case something went oddly wrong as it seems Im always doing these days
Also I found finally a thread I read a while back and they said back in the day that its possible to sell the key alone https://itch.io/t/169922/is-it-appropriate-to-sell-just-a-steam-key-with-no-down... I assume its refered to cases that can only be run inside Steam due to online server or other features? Im sorry to bring this as we already talked about this feature but somehow I dont understand what they say there since it seems to be impossible to sell here the keys only
Sorry I couldnt come back earlier, health issues kept me away, and I see, thank you, I know, that as I dont get any input from staff, besides yours I mean, Im somehow on hold forever, I will think if its worth for me to put my files on sale here, in that case I assume the release date is updated, right? I mean would be listed as new release etc
Speaking of which, it turns out the tech support system has been non-functional as of late due to a service provider messing up. Your ticket wasn't being ignored, but simply unreachable. Barring a more authoritative answer, I think you should just sell your game here as you said. Make a devlog marked as major release, and it will even be treated as newly published, not to mention all the extra traffic. Hope this helps!
I see, thanks again for the big help, well in any case as you said probably the only option I have left right now is to sell the game here following your advice, I never feared piracy to be honest but just now after I made a bigger project and put it on steam I started noticing that piracy is there, just a slight sample, I got several fake emails from people claiming to be youtubers streamers etc asking for steam keys and after checking the real people or contacting the real streamers I noticed those were fake, to be honest Im lost as what they wanted if its just people wanting a free game or just people going to put this up in pirate sites, but then again if I dont do it as you suggest and possibly risk piracy etc the game wont be sold properly here and I really like this site in many ways so I think I will proceed as you suggest even if that means hitting a pirate site as well, I assume there is nothing we can do to avoid that from here, right?.
