Summary
Steamhas started informing users that any games purchased on the digital storefront will only grant a license for those games. This is most likely a preemptive measure for a forthcoming California law that will force storefronts likeSteamto disclose that digital game purchases don’t entail outright ownership for buyers.
For all the conveniences they offer, digital games have always had the caveat of simply being licenses that can be accessed at any time. However, this access is granted by game publishers and can be revoked at any time, flying directly in the face of traditional “ownership.” This is especially troublesome for online-only games, as evidenced byUbisoft renderingThe Crewunplayable after delisting itlast year. There has been a lot of discourse about digital game ownership (or lack thereof) in recent years, and it seems to be reaching the right places.
New Steam Alert Clarifies that Buyers Don’t Own Digital Games
More transparency regarding the complications that come with digital game “ownership” is always welcome, and it’s no surprise that Steam is the first to implement this change. Many PC gamers consider Valve to be one of the most consumer-friendly gaming companies out there, partly due to thehelpful features regularly added to Steam. The recently added alert informing buyers of the truth behind their digital games further reinforces this notion, and it remains to be seen whether other digital game storefronts will begin disclosing the same anytime soon.
While the Californian law won’t change how digital game ownership is handled at a core level, it’s still a promising step that keeps consumers in the know about their rights when buying digital games. Theoverwhelming criticism levied at UbisoftforThe Crewsituation will also hopefully encourage other publishers to ensure that their games are fully functional with or without an internet connection.
Steam
Steam is a digital video game storefront and program developed by Valve that allows gamers to purchase, play, and mod their titles all through one convenient program.
