Steam is s h i t

[Charlie Chalk]

Steam is s h i t. Stop forcing me to update games in order to play them! If I don't want to update a game, that's my choice and if you don't like it, then f u c k o f f!

[Kage Goomba]

Step 1: Go to the Steam Menu at the top left corner of your screen
Step 2: "Go Offline..."
Step 3: Pick a game and enjoy.

Be warned - games not updated or that require internet access will not function properly.

This isn't a steam thing - its a publisher/dev thing.

This is a normal thing.

[Crazy Tiger]

They're not going to offer that on the default branche. Valve is all about being up-to-date, it's why they created Steam in the first place.
Beta branches are workarounds, as are some other means you can find in guides and such.

Or you could use GOG or Itch.io for non-DRM games if they have what you fancy.

[Low Standards]

Originally posted by Charly Chalk:

Steam is s h i t. Stop forcing me to update games in order to play them! If I don't want to update a game, that's my choice and if you don't like it, then f u c k o f f!

You are always going to get the same answer from the same 3 or 4 users on this forum. It is your fault and Steam is right in everything they do.

Then again your OP is offensive to begin with.

[crunchyfrog]

Sorry it's not.

You remember when you first downloaded Steam? YYou had to AGREE to the terms and conditions?

Guess what it says in there that you AGREED to - that the service is fluid and it needs to update from time to time.

So sorry, but you ACCEPTED that as a term of service already. You're demonstrably wrong.

[Rusalky]

No option to turn off updates is annoying. But not critical, until develops put in their EULAs they can uninstall games we bought when they release new version.

Reminds me of time when I was naive, we bought software licences with garanteed pricing for future updates, than developers changed the name of product...

[👾]

Originally posted by Kage Goomba:

Be warned - games not updated or that require internet access will not function properly.

This is simply not true. Yes, there might be fixes which you will be missing out on, but mostly small things. There could be changes which you do not like, or things breaking which were working before.

Online games *might* stop functioning but not necessarily.

[Lithurge]

Originally posted by Rusalky:

No option to turn off updates is annoying. But not critical, until develops put in their EULAs they can uninstall games we bought when they release new version.
...

I don't know.

Capcom with their forced update to RE3, disabling DX11 and increasing system requirements long after release was disingenuous and unnecessary at best. Whilst there's an argument for streamlining workloads by not maintaining multiple versions most publishers will find it hard to provide proof they actively maintain games or even provide anything other than basic FAQ based troubleshooting long term anyway.

Of course if you want to play an older version you should always be prepared to accept there may be issues that your on your own with and of course multiplayer games open up a whole can of worms.

[Phénomènes Mystiques]

The developers should allow all update depots to be public in order to roll back updates if needed. But yes, auto updates and launch updates are trash.

[Kargor]

As was already said, Steam has always enforced updates. A publisher that wants people to be able to use certain older versions can choose to do so, but THEY have to set it up (and since THEY are doing it, Steam has no objections). Most publishers don't like getting support queries from people using older versions of their games, and Valve just makes sure they don't.

Having said that, letting people keep old versions would require a few more changes than just changing the update system. People usually have a reason for wanting to keep an old version, which means Steam has to offer ALL old versions to download. I don't know if they have them stored on their servers anyway, but Steam generally does not OFFER old stuff to people, so the UI and settings (accounts should probably remember that a specific old version of a game is to be used) for that needs to be created as well.

Yes, those aren't complicated things, but they need to be done. And Steam just doesn't want to. Case closed, basically.

[👾]

Originally posted by Kargor:

As was already said, Steam has always enforced updates. A publisher that wants people to be able to use certain older versions can choose to do so, but THEY have to set it up (and since THEY are doing it, Steam has no objections). Most publishers don't like getting support queries from people using older versions of their games, and Valve just makes sure they don't.

Having said that, letting people keep old versions would require a few more changes than just changing the update system. People usually have a reason for wanting to keep an old version, which means Steam has to offer ALL old versions to download. I don't know if they have them stored on their servers anyway, but Steam generally does not OFFER old stuff to people, so the UI and settings (accounts should probably remember that a specific old version of a game is to be used) for that needs to be created as well.

Yes, those aren't complicated things, but they need to be done. And Steam just doesn't want to. Case closed, basically.

I don't think you can easily wave it away like that. I don't know about all the legal stuff around it, nor do I want to, but I think it makes sense to say that I own a piece of software when I bought it. If it can be manipulated from outside, out of my control, that implies that I do not really own it.

On the other hand, if I disable updates there is nothing that Steam or the dev can do to enforce them on me. Except for always-online DRM but that is already the next step in taking away ownership from consumers.

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by lankaras:

Originally posted by Kargor:

As was already said, Steam has always enforced updates. A publisher that wants people to be able to use certain older versions can choose to do so, but THEY have to set it up (and since THEY are doing it, Steam has no objections). Most publishers don't like getting support queries from people using older versions of their games, and Valve just makes sure they don't.

Having said that, letting people keep old versions would require a few more changes than just changing the update system. People usually have a reason for wanting to keep an old version, which means Steam has to offer ALL old versions to download. I don't know if they have them stored on their servers anyway, but Steam generally does not OFFER old stuff to people, so the UI and settings (accounts should probably remember that a specific old version of a game is to be used) for that needs to be created as well.

Yes, those aren't complicated things, but they need to be done. And Steam just doesn't want to. Case closed, basically.

I don't think you can easily wave it away like that. I don't know about all the legal stuff around it, nor do I want to, but I think it makes sense to say that I own a piece of software when I bought it. If it can be manipulated from outside, out of my control, that implies that I do not really own it.

Well, you don't own it. You own a license to play a copy of a game which, during some point of the checkout process, you agreed to allow updates as part of the SSA.

Circling back to what others have said, Valve has made it possible to allow for versioning. They even proved it's ability with the latest Half-Life update. If you don't want the updated version, you can go to the Properties > Betas and select the pre-25th Anniversary Build. Some developers make use of versioning allowing their users to have more control over possible updates, usually mod-friendly devs who understand their community needs time to get mods updated to their updated game.

Also keep in mind that the developers are customers as well. There is an expectation that their updates will be distributed to their users, and Steam is obligated to carry that out.

If there is a game that you want to control updates, you need to take that argument up with that game's developers. Otherwise, Steam is not the platform for you.

[Donald Trump]

Bypassing swear filter is a bannable offense

[👾]

Originally posted by Yiffy the furry LGBT Cat:

Bypassing swear filter is a bannable offense

You just bypassed it by not using any swear words. Ban.

[CadaveR]

you forget "my body my choice"

[Kage Goomba]

Originally posted by lankaras:

Originally posted by Kage Goomba:

Be warned - games not updated or that require internet access will not function properly.

This is simply not true. Yes, there might be fixes which you will be missing out on, but mostly small things. There could be changes which you do not like, or things breaking which were working before.

Online games *might* stop functioning but not necessarily.

You can say what you want - if the game requires internet access - it requires it.
Some are more aggressive than others - but it doesn't change the facts.