The last few days have been significant for the video game industry. Various legal situations have led to a major change in the sale of digital games, and Valve wanted to ensure Steam didn’t fall behind. That’s why the PC gaming store now tells the harsh truth about what users are actually buying.
Steam Now Reveals the Harsh Truth About Digital Games
Users have noticed that an important change started appearing on Steam in the last few hours. It turns out that Valve’s gaming store now shows a message informing users of what they’re really purchasing.
In other words, instead of telling you that you’re about to buy a game, the platform now warns that you’re about to acquire a digital license to use that game. In short, when you buy a license, you don’t own the game; you’re simply granted the right to use it for an unspecified amount of time.
“Purchasing a digital product grants a license for that product on Steam. For full terms and conditions, see the Steam Subscriber Agreement,” reads the message displayed in the store.
How Did Players React to Steam’s Change?
This has sparked a lot of discussion among players who use Steam to buy and enjoy games. On sites like Reddit, users have expressed mixed feelings, with some understanding the move but raising concerns about how digital licenses work.
“It’s crazy to pay $60 for a game that doesn’t even belong to you and could be taken away at any moment, whether you like it or not,” said InterestingPicture27 on Reddit.
“The issue with game ownership totally depends on the game’s content. Let’s say you buy Undertale on Steam. Great, you have a single-player game that will work as long as the underlying engine is compatible with your PC.
But if you buy something like Overwatch 1 as a good example, you’ll only be able to play it as long as the developers support the game. Over time, servers will go offline, and part of the game, or even the whole thing, will no longer be available. A developer can’t maintain servers for decades for three people who want to play twice a month.
That’s why, whenever I buy a game with online content, I know I’m paying for a limited time. I may enjoy it for years, or maybe only 50 hours, but I’ll still think my money was well spent. (For context, I worked on an MMO that unfortunately shut down, and I’ve also been on the receiving end of player frustration. It’s incredible how many people don’t realize that online games aren’t forever),” said Fureniku.
Why Did Valve Make This Change on Steam?
The reason Valve made this change is that a new law was recently passed in California, USA. It requires businesses to be clearer about what users are buying when they acquire digital goods.
In other words, the law mandates that stores like Steam, the PlayStation Store, or the Xbox Store clarify that users are not actually purchasing a game. What they are acquiring is a digital license that allows them to enjoy the game, series, movie, or album.
“As retailers continue to move away from selling physical media, the need for consumer protections in the purchase of digital media has become increasingly important. I thank the governor for signing Assembly Bill 2426, ensuring that false and misleading advertising by digital media sellers telling consumers they own their purchases becomes a thing of the past," said California Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin.
What do you think of this news? Do you believe this is a positive change for PC gamers? Let us know in the comments.
Follow this link for more news related to Steam. Also, here you’ll find all our PC gaming coverage.
Comments
Best
New