Although it seems the new Autumn Sale has prevented any publishers from launching a Steam Free Weekend for October 1-October 5, that does not mean the storefront is not coming with any kind of new release. Indeed, it seems Steam’s Free-to-Keep Promotion is stepping in with two new Free-to-Keep Items aimed at specific gamers.
Generally speaking, Steam has two major promotions to keep in mind: Free-to-Keep and Free Weekend. The former makes a Steam item completely free to claim, download, and keep forever, as long as it is claimed before a certain expiration date. The latter makes items completely free for a limited time, up until a certain expiration date. Never should the two get mixed up, lest fans miss out on some free PC games, so it’s worth reiterating that the new releases are both part of Steam’s Free-to-Keep Promotion.
From now until October 15 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET, Steam users can claim two DLC items completely free of charge: Scrubdesignz liveries for MXGP 26 and the Drakin Armoury Pack for Rotwood. The catch is that both of these free items require the base games, with Rotwood currently on sale at a -25% discount and MXGP 26 being a $50 game that just released on October 1. In the case of Rotwood, it’s worth mentioning that this DLC is also being given away directly via this Promotion, giving both of these brand-new video games additional free releases for October 1.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
Of the two, Rotwood is the most substantial. Not only does this new 2026 DLC add a new weapon and playable race, but it adds a new storyline for players to check out. They’ll be able to play the new playable species, the titular Drakin, as well as pick up their iconic weapon: the Greatsword. In doing so, they’ll help a Drakin Monk named Brother Tendy recover stolen ceremonial armor from his monastery. It’s a simple premise, but it adds a ton of new content beyond the aforementioned items, including new variants, new mini-bosses, and new armor mirages.
Meanwhile, the Scrubdesignz liveries are exactly what they say on the tin can: a collection of unique liveries for MXGP 26. MXGP 26 just launched on Steam on October 1, and while it does not have a lot of reviews, they are mixed so far, with only 46% of reviews being positive. As a racing/sports simulation game on Steam, of course, its audience was already mostly locked in.
In both cases, the current Free-to-Keep promotion targets different gamers: fans who like co-op games on Steam and those who like sports games. Fans who checked out Rotwood earlier this year are getting treated, while racing fans checking out MXGP 26 as a new October 2026 release also get a little add-on. It’s not much, but in both cases, it’s an honest freebie for those fans.
