Steam Clarifies Game Ownership: Users Now Clearly Notified of Licence Purchases
Steam has recently implemented a clearer notification system regarding the End-User Licence Agreement (EULA) for games and applications available on its platform. This change highlights on product pages that consumers are purchasing licences for the software rather than owning the games outright. This crucial information is now also visibly displayed at the checkout stage.
This initiative by Valve, the parent company of Steam, appears to be a proactive measure in anticipation of the upcoming AB 2426 law, set to take effect next year. Under this new regulation, businesses must transparently inform consumers that their purchases involve licenses to access digital content rather than outright ownership. The law pertains exclusively to digital versions of games, music, films, TV shows, and ebooks acquired from online stores, excluding permanent offline downloads.
Once enacted, the AB 2426 law will impose penalties on companies that fail to adequately convey these licensing restrictions, potentially labeling such oversights as false advertising. The legislation stems from previous incidents, notably Ubisoft’s controversial elimination of ‘The Crew’ from users’ libraries post-server shutdown, which highlighted issues of digital ownership.
To be clear, the concept of EULAs accompanying digital products like games and apps is not a new phenomenon. They have been a standard practice for quite some time, although many consumers traditionally overlook them. For illustration, here is a segment from SEGA’s EULA linked to their latest release, Metaphor: ReFantazio, on Steam:
“Important – Read carefully: By purchasing, installing, opening, copying and/or otherwise using this product you hereby acknowledge, accept and agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement (including any and all schedules annexed to this agreement). Sega reserves the right to amend or modify this agreement at any time, in any manner, at Sega’s sole discretion and without incurring any liability.”
Despite being highly relevant for consumers in regions such as the US and Canada, similar stipulations exist in EULAs elsewhere, illustrating a broader, less visible impact worldwide. The reality is sobering: regardless of geographical location and regardless of full payment, developers and publishers retain the right to alter, withdraw, or modify access to digital products after purchase, including removing them from a user’s library.
Unfortunately, these significant terms often remain embedded within lengthy EULA documents, which many users skip through when making digital purchases. Steam’s recently added notification acts as a “gentle” reminder to consumers: the nature of digital purchases is not always as straightforward as it seems.
By making these changes, Steam emphasizes a more transparent understanding of digital rights for its users. As digital content continues to dominate, such transparency is vital for educating consumers about what their purchases truly entail.
