Marketing · 6 min read
The Indie Launch Kit Checklist
By DesiStudio Team · January 27, 2026
Miss any of these and Steam rejects your page. Skip the press kit and coverage drops 80%. Here is the full list, ordered by deadline, plus the tools that generate the whole set in a single afternoon.
Steam page assets
Small capsule 231×87, main capsule 467×181, header 460×215, library hero 3840×1240, library capsule 600×900, page background 1438×810, community icon 184×184. Miss any and the page looks broken.
The small capsule (231×87) is the highest-stakes single asset in your entire marketing kit — it is the thumbnail every user sees in the discovery queue. If the game title cannot be read at that size, the whole capsule needs redesigning.
itch.io page assets
Cover image 630×500 and optional background image. Simpler than Steam but no less important — the cover is your entire pitch.
itch.io users skim faster than Steam users, so the cover has to do the whole job in under a second. Face + logo + one visual verb is the pattern that works.
Press kit
Follow the presskit() convention: factsheet, description, awards, videos, screenshots (6+), logos, team bios, contact. Journalists filter by presskit-availability.
Screenshots should be at native resolution with UI in the right region (not centred over the logo). GIFs should loop cleanly at 3–6 seconds. A single 60-second trailer beats a 3-minute one for most coverage.
DesiStudio bundles Launch Kit Studio with Steam, itch.io and press-kit presets baked in inside one credit-based subscription — the same balance powers all 14 studios (Sprite, Tile, Character, Parallax, Props, HUD, Logo, Idea, Extend, Asset, Code, 2D Game, Storyboard, Launch Kit), so you never juggle tools mid-project.
Timeline the marketing kit against Steam review
Steam takes up to 5 business days to review a store page for the first time. Rejections cost another round. Give yourself 4 weeks of buffer between "kit ready" and "launch day."
The 4-week buffer also gives you time to test capsule variants against wishlist conversion — Steam’s A/B tools are limited, but even a rough side-by-side against friends will surface obvious losers.
Ready to try it?
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Open Launch Kit Studio →Frequently asked questions
What image sizes does Steam require for a store page?
Small capsule 231×87, main 467×181, header 460×215, library hero 3840×1240, library capsule 600×900, page background 1438×810.
Can I generate Steam capsules with AI?
Yes. DesiStudio’s Launch Kit Studio has presets for every Steam and itch.io size, exported at the exact required dimensions.
How long does Steam take to review a store page?
Up to 5 business days for a first review, longer for changes to sensitive content. Plan 4 weeks of buffer.