When you purchase games online, especially through platforms like Steam, you're not buying a physical product. Instead, you’re paying for access to a digital library. Recently, Valve, Steam's parent company, confirmed that users don’t actually own the games they buy on Steam; they simply receive a digital license to access them.
This revelation was highlighted by several media reports and is now reportedly visible on Steam’s desktop app, though it’s yet to appear on the mobile version.
Image credit: Engadget
What Does This Mean for Gamers?
Practically speaking, there’s no immediate change. Players can still enjoy the games they've 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 could be revoked under certain conditions, meaning the game might become inaccessible.
This transparency aims to make consumers aware that they don’t truly "own" their digital purchases.
However, platforms like GOG, which allow customers to download offline installers, aren't affected by this rule, The Verge noted.
The Battle Between Physical & Digital Games
As gaming moves toward a digital-only landscape, concerns are growing about the inability to own physical copies. Physical discs allow gamers to keep playing even if a game is pulled from online stores or if there’s no internet access. Additionally, owning a disc enables reselling, giving players more freedom.
Despite this, there’s a belief among some gamers that even physical discs are just another form of licensing — what’s on the disc 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 disc drives, unless you purchase an external one.
Console gamers with inbuild disc drives, particularly those with systems like the PS5, still have the option to buy physical copies, offering them an edge in this evolving digital market.