Steam, the biggest online spot for PC games, has changed how it looks to tell people that buying a game doesn’t mean you really “own” it like you might think.
Now, when you buy a game on Steam, a message pops up saying you’re getting a license for the game, not the game itself. This note is part of their Steam Subscriber Agreement. It’s like they want to make sure everyone knows what they’re actually getting.
This change comes because California made a new rule. They said digital stores, like those selling games, movies, and ebooks, need to explain clearly what people are getting when they buy stuff. This is because lots of people are confused about what “owning” something means when it’s all digital. California Assembly member Jacqui Irwin said in a press release, “As retailers continue to pivot away from selling physical media, the need for consumer protections on the purchase of digital media has become increasingly more important.”
Even though the law starts in 2025, Steam is jumping ahead by putting this disclaimer out now. We think other game stores might do the same thing soon.
People just want to know what they’re really paying for.
The new rule helps people understand how digital stuff works, but it doesn’t stop companies from taking away things you’ve bought. Like when Ubisoft removed The Crew from libraries after shutting down servers. Developers sometimes shut down old game servers when fewer people play, but it’s rare to remove games completely. This happened with Concord, a shooter game, but at least they gave money back. And remember Hideo Kojima’s PT? It was a single-player game that disappeared too. It was free, but folks thought it would stay forever.
