Valve has recently updated the shopping cart feature on its Steam store, providing users with a crucial warning before making a purchase. This notification emphasizes that buyers are essentially acquiring a license to use the game, rather than immediate ownership rights.
This development marks a significant shift in how disputes regarding digital goods ownership will be handled. Following the enactment of law AB 2426 by the Governor of California, Valve swiftly added this warning to their purchase page. The legislation mandates that stores accurately disclose the nature of digital goods acquisition, prohibiting misleading terms like “buy” if it does not entail instant ownership rights. Consequently, Steam’s license agreement now explicitly states that players are obtaining solely the right to use the game, implying potential removal under certain circumstances.
Although California’s law won’t take effect until next year, Valve proactively implemented these changes. Exceptions outlined in the document include purchases within free games and offline mode projects. In response to these updates, GOG store administrators humorously contrasted their policy with Steam’s:
“In light of recent trends in banners, we’ve decided to join in! What are your thoughts? GOG”
“Purchasing a digital product from GOG grants you an offline installer that remains yours indefinitely.”
While Steam’s overall policy remains unchanged globally, users now have greater clarity on their purchases’ true nature. Notably, Ubisoft faced backlash for revoking The Crew game licenses from owners following server shutdowns in spring 2024.
Source: stopgame.ru
