Press ‘Start’ Together
DLC is the IGDA Foundation’s annual fundraising event on Steam, bringing players and developers together to support a more diverse and inclusive game industry.
For 2027, our theme is “Press ‘Start’ Together,” celebrating the power of games to connect people and build community. We are curating a selection of outstanding multiplayer games to participate.
2026 Stats
2026 was a significant step up from our inaugural event.
2026 Stats
Why participate?
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Reach new players.
Your game is featured alongside a curated selection of standout multiplayer games on Steam.
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Support the next generation of game creators.
A portion of participating sales supports the IGDA Foundation's programs for underrepresented and marginalized developers and aspiring game-industry professionals around the world.
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Be part of the community.
DLC brings players, developers, publishers, and the broader game industry together around a shared commitment to a more inclusive industry.
What happened for one publisher in 2026?
$81K Forecast → $199K Actual Sales
One participating publisher forecast $81,000 in sales across three games during DLC. Actual sales reached $199,000, generating a $19,000 donation to the IGDA Foundation and an estimated ~50% visibility/sales uplift compared with their closest sale-free period.
Want to help out as a content creator?
About the IGDA Foundation
The IGDA Foundation is a global charitable organization working to make the game industry more diverse and inclusive. We provide free professional development, mentorship, scholarships, and career opportunities to underrepresented and marginalized developers and people pursuing careers in games.
P.S. Not the same as the IGDA: https://www.igdafoundation.org/about/#pillars
Community Impact
Interested in participating?
FAQ Section
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Participating games will be featured on a dedicated event page on Steam, with potential for front-page visibility. The IGDA Foundation will also promote the event and participating games through our social media channels and network.
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We encourage developers to donate 20% of their revenue during the event period to maximize our collective impact. However, we understand that every studio's situation is unique. We suggest a minimum donation of 5%, but any contribution makes a difference in supporting our mission for a more inclusive games industry.
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Any developer or publisher with a game on Steam that has either a purchase price or paid DLC is eligible to participate.
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Donations will be processed after the event concludes. We'll provide detailed instructions for submitting donations, including options for PayPal and wire transfers. All donations are considered charitable contributions, as the IGDA Foundation is a U.S-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This means your donation may be tax-deductible, depending on your local tax laws. We’ll provide receipts for all contributions to ensure proper documentation for tax purposes.
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The accounting for the DLC event is very straightforward and uses the tools easily accessible in Steamworks. After the event:
Studios run a standard Steam sales report for the DLC event dates and note the net revenue for the participating game(s).
Studio applies your donation percentage (we would love 20% - the % is up to you) to that net revenue to calculate your donation amount.
When Steam pays out your net revenue for the event (late June) we ask that you send your donation amount to the IGDA Foundation as a charitable donation in early July.
No special setup is required in Steam, and there’s no need to track individual DLC event transactions. It’s one report, one calculation, and one outbound payment. Since IGDA Foundation is a US 501(c)(3), US companies can usually treat this as a tax‑deductible charitable contribution rather than a complex revenue‑share arrangement.
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Participating creators help support the IGDA Foundation by showcasing games featured during DLC and encouraging their communities to get involved. We’re looking to partner with content creators who want to help raise funds and awareness alongside the Download for Charity (DLC) Steam Event. How you participate is up to you—whether through livestreams, videos, short-form content, or collaborating with other creators.
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Not at all! Creators of all sizes and experience levels are welcome to apply. You don't need to be a full-time creator or have previous charity fundraising experience—we're looking for creators who are excited to support the games community and help make a difference.
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For additional questions, please contact us at dlc@igdafoundation.org.