Steam Now Clarifies What You're Actually Purchasing

Steam, the largest digital store for PC games, has updated its interface to include a disclaimer clarifying that purchasing a game doesn't mean you "own" it in the traditional sense.

A new banner on the platform now reads, "A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam," aligning with the Steam Subscriber Agreement.

This update follows recent legislation in California requiring digital storefronts for games, movies, music, and ebooks to make licensing terms clearer to customers. The law addresses growing concerns over what "ownership" means in a digital age.

"As physical media becomes less common, ensuring consumer protection for digital purchases has become essential," said California Assembly member Jacqui Irwin in a press release.

Though the California law takes effect in 2025, Steam is taking early action by introducing the disclaimer now. It’s likely that other digital storefronts will adopt similar practices in the near future.

While the law aims to increase transparency around digital licenses, it doesn't prevent companies from revoking access to purchased content. For instance, Ubisoft removed The Crew from players' libraries after shutting down its servers.

While server shutdowns are common for older games, it's rarer for games to be pulled entirely from libraries. A similar situation occurred with the multiplayer shooter Concord, where refunds were issued, and Hideo Kojima’s PT, which was removed after a brief release, though some players believed they could keep it indefinitely.