Steam Clarifies to Players: Purchasing a License, Not the Game

It appears that the company is preparing for a California law set to take effect next year.

Steam’s New Direction

Steam, the renowned gaming platform, has shifted its approach in defining its services. It now displays a notice in its shopping cart that purchases are essentially just a license to access games, not ownership of the games themselves.

Preempting California Law

This move appears to preempt a new California law set to take effect next year. Signed last month by Governor Gavin Newsom, the law will require companies to disclose that digital content purchases do not equate to actual ownership.

Implications of the Law

The legislation, known as AB 2426, mandates digital marketplaces to inform customers that they are merely purchasing access licenses. It applies solely to digital copies of video games, music, films, TV shows, and eBooks bought online—not to perpetual offline downloads. Non-compliance could lead to fines for misleading advertising if companies fail to explicitly state the limitations of digital purchases.

This legislative action follows incidents where companies like Ubisoft removed games such as The Crew from players’ libraries following server shutdowns.

A Clear Warning for Consumers

Specifically, when you proceed to checkout on Steam with items in your cart, a notice in the bottom right corner states: “A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam.” This warning appears to be a relatively new addition, emphasizing its recent implementation.