Key Takeaways
- The newly signed California law AB 2426 will force companies to admit to buyers that digital games are sold as licenses, and Steam has already implemented this disclosure.
- Steam shopping carts now inform users that they’re purchasing a license for a game.
As a seasoned gamer who has seen the digital gaming landscape evolve over the years, I must admit that I find the recent move by Steam to disclose the licensing nature of their games quite refreshing. Having been burned by a few “purchases” that turned out to be just licenses in disguise, I can’t help but feel a sense of vindication knowing that things are finally moving towards more transparency.
Steam is now notifying users that when they buy games from their online marketplace, it only provides a license for those games. This step seems to be taken in anticipation of an upcoming California law, which would require platforms like Steam to clarify that purchasing digital games doesn’t equate to outright ownership for the buyers.
Digital games provide numerous benefits but come with a catch – they’re just licenses that can be used whenever you want. Yet, this access is given by game publishers who hold the power to withdraw it at any moment, contradicting the conventional understanding of ownership. This issue is particularly significant for online-exclusive games, as demonstrated when Ubisoft made The Crew unplayable following its removal from sale last year. The topic of digital game ownership (or non-ownership) has been a hot discussion in recent times, and it appears the conversation is gaining traction.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’m excited about a new California law that’s going to make digital storefronts be more transparent when selling games online. Starting next year, they won’t be able to use terms like “buy” or “purchase” without clearly stating that what we’re actually getting is a license, not the game itself. It seems Steam, my go-to PC gaming platform, is already ahead of this curve. I noticed a new message in my shopping cart that explains, “When you make a purchase of a digital product, you are granted a license for the product on Steam.” This is then followed by a link to their Subscriber Agreement, ensuring we’re well-informed about our purchases.
New Steam Alert Clarifies that Buyers Don’t Own Digital Games
It’s great when we get more clarity about the challenges associated with owning digital games, and it’s not surprising that Steam is leading the way in making this change. Many PC gamers view Valve as one of the most consumer-friendly gaming companies because of the useful tools they regularly add to Steam. The new warning for buyers about the nature of their digital purchases only strengthens this reputation, and we’ll have to wait and see if other digital game marketplaces will start being more transparent in a similar fashion.
Although the Californian law doesn’t fundamentally alter how digital game ownership operates, it’s a significant stride towards informing consumers about their rights when purchasing digital games. The backlash against Ubisoft over the case of ‘The Crew’ may serve as motivation for other publishers to make sure their games function properly whether they require an internet connection or not.
Read More
- SOL PREDICTION. SOL cryptocurrency
- LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- ENA PREDICTION. ENA cryptocurrency
- SHIB PREDICTION. SHIB cryptocurrency
- USD PHP PREDICTION
- USD ZAR PREDICTION
- Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare – Where To Find Sasquatch
- USD COP PREDICTION
- CAKE PREDICTION. CAKE cryptocurrency
2024-10-11 19:15