Why can you only buy emotes from games you own?

[Chaosolous]

Couldn't buy an emote from the point shop because I didn't own the game. What's the rationale behind that wall?

[Lord Of War]

Only few games have restrictions likes this. Many others allow you to buy frames, avatars, emotes w/o owning a game.

[Jaunitta 🌸]

Agree , I saw a very cool emote and went to spend my points and then nope can do as I dont own the game.
Could be an advertising thing and push to make us buy game for emotes .
Having a game emot or avatar we are supposed to be proud to show we own this game.
There are other places online we can buy them via the Steam Market finish the card drops.
Here's one I use. Type in the game name see what comes, sometimes slow to show.
https://steam.tools/emoticons/#/

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

Money.

[Chompman]

Probably because points have no monetary value and it's another way to get people to buy your game for some.

[kingjames488]

since when? not last I checked.

[Kiddiec͕̤̱͋̿͑͠at 🃏]

I wasn't aware that only some of the games required you own it & have 2 hours of play-time to get the emot from the points shop. In my experience, you always need to own the game & have 2 hours of play-time to get an emoticon but if you want an avatar, avatar frame, or sticker, then you can just get it without needing to own a copy of a license for the game.

Also, just look up the emot on the Steam Community Market... most of the time you can get it for 3 cents there without owning the game ...most the time.

[ShelLuser]

Buy from the marketplace?