Digital Gaming Platform Steam Clarifies: No Game Ownership for Customers
New and Unfiltered Steam Buying Experience
Hey there! You might've noticed a change while shopping on Steam. So, what's up? Now, ever time you buy a game, Steam's making it crystal clear - you're just getting a license to play, not actually owning that game.
The new message pops up before you hit "Continue to Payment," stark and straightforward. It reads, "A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam." Don't worry, it links to Steam's Subscriber Agreement for more details. While Valve has hinted at this for awhile, it's now made explicit in every purchase.
This change could be due to a recent California law, AB 2426. It's all about informing customers when they're purchasing a license instead of a copy of the digital good. It demands that online shops be clear-cut - "buying or purchasing the digital good is a license." They also need to provide a link to company terms & conditions.
Steam is just the first digitial storefront to hop on this new requirement, but who knows? We might see more following suit. Still, it's a significant move from Steam-the pioneer of digital games-to make this change. Remember, even owning a disc doesn't guarantee ownership rights. Publishers can yank games off player's libraries, like what happened on PlayStation before, and with Ubisoft's The Crew back in April.
Last month, Valve launched "Steam Family" program, allowing gamers to share games with family and friends. The catch? Initially, it's designed for immediate family living in the same household. However, Valve might tighten rules if too many users start sharing accounts outside their household.
Steam Family isn't a solution for game ownership issues. Most multiplayer games restrict users from sharing across platforms. As for passing digital libraries to heirs or families? Well, users have reported that Steam Support suggests it's not possible. You can't pass on your Steam library via a will, and Valve is the ultimate authority on who can transfer the games in your account. So much for digital ownership, eh?
So, what's the deal with this new "license" thing? Well, it means Valve has the final say on who can access your games after you. Maybe we need to get used to this new reality. Ubisoft's head of subscriptions already suggested as much, saying we should accept not owning anything. Hmm, food for thought.
- Valve has made it explicit in every purchase on Steam's new storefront that a digital product purchase grants a license for the product, not actual ownership.
- The recent California law, AB 2426, requires online shops like Steam to clearly inform customers when they're purchasing a license instead of a copy of the digital good.
- As a result of this new rule, Steam has become the first digital storefront to notify users before they proceed to payment about the license-only nature of their purchases.
- With this change, Steam is setting a new standard for the future of digital storefronts and their approach to game licenses.
