Do I own my games or not?

[Rain for x-gods]

I’ve been around since the early days of Steam. Back then, it wasn’t easy to trust a new platform with something as valuable as our games. We were transitioning from physical copies—discs we could hold in our hands—to a digital library that promised we’d still own what we paid for, just in a different format.

Over time, many of us put our trust in Steam. We accepted this shift under the assurance that our purchases were permanent, that our games were ours to keep. Now, I’m hearing a very different message: that games are merely a service, and ownership is an illusion.

What the hell happened?

This isn't just a technical change—it’s a betrayal of the trust built over years. I want clarity. Is Steam still committed to the original promise—that when we buy a game, we own it?

I still consider myself lucky to own my games. I don’t want to end up like what I half-jokingly call “Gabe Newell’s digital slaves”—those who gave up their consumer rights without question, surrendering the idea of ownership for the convenience of access.

It's not funny. In fact, it’s heartbreaking to see so many fellow PC gamers abandon their dignity and logic as consumers. They paid real money, yet have nothing to show for it if the service ever disappears or decides otherwise.

I say this not out of bitterness, but sadness. We should never forget that as consumers, we have rights. And one of the most basic rights is ownership of what we pay for.

[datCookie]

You've never owned your games. All you have ever owned is the license to play the game, regardless of whether it's on a disc or a digital copy.

[Thiesen]

You don't even own the apartment you're renting to live... that buildinjg do not belong to you... it belong to the one you rented it from... which can at any moment evict you for misbehaving,,.

Whever you take a loan you owe the money back... that's not your money,,,

[pckirk]

since the early days of the 1960's, you have never owned any books, software, game, app, music, video etc.. Yes we had actual media that this was on, like records, reel to reel tapes, 8 track tapes, cassettes, video tapes, compact discs, laser discs, digital media etc, you have never owned the content on the said media, you have only owned a licence to listen, operate, use, watch, and play said content. So nothing has changed in over 70+ years.

[Trollhammer]

You never owned your games, just a licence.
It was always that way so you don't need to made up "promises" just to feed your false arguments.

You claim to be a user since the early days, maybe you should have read the user agreement at least once in two decades...

Edit: It seems you've been at it for a while, just another troll/jester farming attempt...

[Unn4m3d (♥AUT♥)]

Again, for the hundreds of times, no, you do not own games. You own the license to play them.
You have never owned the games you bought, not even in physical form.

[Bishop]

No you don't. Valve actively decided when creating the storefront that you shouldn't own your games or have any rights. That's one of the dozens of reasons you shouldn't support steam.

[JacquesPatat]

I see to many of these threads regarding ownership of games. Sometimes its better to search steam forums then creating a thread, as this question keeps popping up and the same answers is given each time.

[HikariLight]

Originally posted by JacquesPatat:

I see to many of these threads regarding ownership of games. Sometimes its better to search steam forums then creating a thread, as this question keeps popping up and the same answers is given each time.

The reason the answer never changes is because that has ALWAYS been the answer.

[JacquesPatat]

Originally posted by HikariLight:

Originally posted by JacquesPatat:

I see to many of these threads regarding ownership of games. Sometimes its better to search steam forums then creating a thread, as this question keeps popping up and the same answers is given each time.

The reason the answer never changes is because that has ALWAYS been the answer.

thank you for stating what i just said

[Beltneck]

If buying isn't owning, then something isn't something.

[( ( < < <🤖> > > ) )]

maybe the question needs to be...

can you play your games for ever

I know i can play my CD games as long as the CD lasts.... and thats not always forever...

[Chika Ogiue]

Originally posted by Rain for x-gods:

Do I own my games or not?

Nope. Never have. Even from day 1 Steam's terms of agreement specifically told you this much. The exact wording used has changed over the years, but it's always had the same intent. As I'm sure everyone else has also told you, this is the same no matter how or where you buy your games. Yes, even physical.

Originally posted by Bishop:

No you don't. Valve actively decided when creating the storefront that you shouldn't own your games or have any rights.

No, Valve had no say in this. Valve have no sway over how intellectual property rights work. It has always worked this way -- creators have rights too, after all -- long before Valve were ever an idea, let alone an entity conducting business.

Originally posted by Beltneck:

If buying isn't owning, then something isn't something.

That something was never something, it was and still is unlawful access.

EDIT:
Love that you paid me with points, but you could have just accepted the L, you know.

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by Rain for x-gods:

I’ve been around since the early days of Steam. Back then, it wasn’t easy to trust a new platform with something as valuable as our games. We were transitioning from physical copies—discs we could hold in our hands—to a digital library that promised we’d still own what we paid for, just in a different format.

Yeah and nothing has changed.
You kinda showing that you never paid attention to the documentation that came with those physical games m8. You always agreed that you were buying a license. tHe physical media was just a delivery mechanism.

The only diff between physical and digital is that digital has inbuilt mechanisms that allow for more practical enforcement of the terms that have been there since the early 90's.


You never owned your games. You just owned a license.
Theyhad very little ability to enforce that before.
Now they have the ability.

[Chika Ogiue]

Originally posted by Beltneck:

What is unlawful about something?

There are so many things, that would have to be quite a long list.

I'm sure you have the intelligence to work it out for yourself. If not, ask you mom or dad to explain it to you.

[PocketYoda]

Same with music.