Bought a game digitally? Well, you don’t own it, Steam-Owner Valve confirms

When you buy games online, especially through platforms like Steam, you are not purchasing a physical product. Instead, you pay for access to a digital library. Recently, Steam’s parent company Valve confirmed that users do not actually own the games they purchase on Steam; they simply receive a digital license to access it.

This revelation was highlighted by several media reports and is now reportedly visible on Steam’s desktop app, although it has yet to appear on the mobile version.

Image credit: Engadget

What does this mean for gamers?

Practically speaking, there is no immediate change. Players can still enjoy the games they purchased.

However, an upcoming law in California will soon require companies to explicitly inform customers that purchasing digital content only grants them a license. This license may be revoked under certain conditions, which may make the game inaccessible.

This transparency is intended to make consumers aware that they do not really “own” their digital purchases.

However, platforms like GOG, which allow customers to download installers offline, are not affected by this rule, The Verge noted.

The battle between physical and digital games

As gaming moves more and more towards a digital landscape, concerns are growing about the inability to own physical copies. Physical discs allow gamers to continue playing even if a game is removed from online stores or there is no internet access. Additionally, owning a disc allows for resale, giving players more freedom.

Despite this, some gamers are convinced that even physical discs are just another form of licensing; what’s on the drive is less important than the access it grants.

But in the PC gaming world, physical media is becoming rare, with most releases being digital-only. Most gaming laptops don’t even come with disk drives unless you purchase an external one.

Console gamers with built-in disc drives, especially those with systems like the PS5, still have the option to purchase physical copies, giving them an edge in this evolving digital market.