Steam Now Shows That You Don’t Actually Own The Game You’re Buying

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that the recent Steam update came as no surprise to me. I’ve long been accustomed to purchasing licenses rather than owning games outright, but it’s refreshing to see companies finally acknowledging this fact. The California law is a step in the right direction for consumer protection, and I can only hope that other digital storefronts follow suit.

The following time you acquire a game via Steam, it will become evident that what you’re really getting isn’t the actual game itself. In fact, a recent update on Steam clarifies that when customers purchase a game, they’re essentially acquiring a license instead.

When you buy a digital product, it means you’re given permission to use that product through Steam, as indicated by the provided link to their terms and conditions.

Steam has rolled out an update. Now when you purchase a game from the store, it informs you that you’re not really acquiring the game itself. Instead, what you’re doing is obtaining a license for the game.
— Mike Straw (@mikestrawmedia.com) 2024-10-11T15:29:49.618Z

Following California’s enactment of a new law, digital marketplaces must now explicitly indicate when the media being purchased only grants a license for access. This legislation affects various types of digital content, including music, films, television shows, e-books, and video games.

With retailers moving away from selling physical items and focusing more on digital media, it’s essential to safeguard consumers when buying digital content. California Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin emphasized this point, stating that Governor’s signing of AB 2426 would eliminate false and misleading advertising about digital purchases by sellers, ensuring customers no longer mistakenly believe they own their digital purchases.

The law goes into effect in 2025.

Currently, only Steam displays this specific disclaimer when buying a game. In contrast, neither the Xbox Store, PlayStation Store, nor Epic Games Store have this same notice. The question remains as to when they might implement this change, but it’s reasonable to anticipate that such an update will occur in the future.

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