Transferring games that were purchased

[Zyphur]

Hi,

I just want to say that I think its very bad that myself or an immediate family cannot transfer their games to another account. In my instance my brother passed away. He sent tons of money on games and because he passed away, I cannot have his account transferred to me or merged to my account.

This tells me that the games you buy are not games you actually own. Yes it's digital but it's not games you own. Especially when paying full price for these titles. I think its an absolute waste that you can withhold a person hard earned money that was used to purchase games which in simple terms you own only for it to disappear if you die. The value of games he bought is basically gone and it cannot be transferred. It's EXTREMELY disappointing to me. Same goes for me. If something happens to me. Why can't my son get these games so he can experience them since I purchased them at full price. Steam you need to revisit this policy. I think its extremely insensitive. I'm not saying share with anyone, but at least to immediate families like siblings or parents. This needs to change.

It's no wonder people go back to pirating games cause you never truly own the games that paid for with your hard earned money.

Regards
Faeez

[Brian9824]

This is not unique to steam. Every single digital platform operates the same. Accounts are not transferable for the most part, nor are items on it. On a case by case basis depending on local laws from what i've heard its possible to do so if its legally documented in a will.

Without one there is no chance at all, as Steam would not get involved as you being his brother doesn't mean he wants you to have his account. Steam has no way to know if he wanted you, his friend, his parents, or no one at all to give you access, hence why they won't do anything unless you have legally accepted documentation on the matter.

[Malfunctioning Robot]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Tanoomba:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Malfunctioning Robot:

Accounts that are transfered through legal means such as a will are already possible. You aren't entitled to his account if it wasn't willed to you

The licensing agreements make it pretty clear that the licenses are non-transferable. I don't believe leaving your collection to someone in your will is an exception. Pretty sure Steam doesn't even have the ability to transfer games from one library to another in its infrastructure.

Having said that, if OP's brother wanted him to get his library after he passed, all he had to do was leave him his login name and password. Same for if OP wants to leave his own library to his son. While probably against the rules, there isn't really any way for Steam to know that the original account owner has passed and that someone else is now accessing the account.

They wont transfer the games to a different account, but they have no choice but to accept legal control of the account being passed to a new user when it is legally bequeathed. They don't have to like it, but they are STILL required to obey the law.

In a case like the OP, if it's not in the will it will be down to whatever local inheritance law dictates and likely require a lawyer that will cost more than it is worth

[BJWyler]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Oprindeligt skrevet af eram:

do you have full access to the account?

I unfortunately do not he passed suddenly. I just received a call at 1am that he passed. So yeah.

Wow, and the first thing you thought of was getting your hands on his Steam account?

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

If i was allowed access by supplying all necessary information then id do that because I'd support both accounts which wouldn't be a problem. It would still be a win for Steam anyway.

The problem is that allowing games to be transferred to another account would be a blessing for scammers who regularly hijack user accounts.

Documentation is very easy to fake nowadays, so I doubt Valve even wants to consider the hassle it would be to begin to enable something like that.

[Zyphur]

Oprindeligt skrevet af BJWyler:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

I unfortunately do not he passed suddenly. I just received a call at 1am that he passed. So yeah.

Wow, and the first thing you thought of was getting your hands on his Steam account?

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

If i was allowed access by supplying all necessary information then id do that because I'd support both accounts which wouldn't be a problem. It would still be a win for Steam anyway.

The problem is that allowing games to be transferred to another account would be a blessing for scammers who regularly hijack user accounts.

Documentation is very easy to fake nowadays, so I doubt Valve even wants to consider the hassle it would be to begin to enable something like that.

No that wasn't on my mind at all. I'm not petty and insensitive to what is really important. It's not like he passed away today and I jumped at the chance. This was never on my mind at all. It's more the fact you pay for games you don't really own. Today is a month since he passed and I have been helping my family with all the more important things. This is something I thought of because logically he paid for all of it and I wanted to know how it worked. It's not really about the games here cause I have my own account and most of the games he has cause we played often together.

With that being said, I do agree with everything you said about easy to provide fake documentation etc. I just feel that we have come to a point now where we don't own any games we pay full price. This is what I have come to see now. Sure it's been at the back of my mind but I didn't actually think much about it.

[Brian9824]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

I just feel that we have come to a point now where we don't own any games we pay full price.

You don't own any digital content, you technically don't own the disks either, you own a license to the game and the discs just contain the files needed to play it. Its just that digital goods let developers control their licensing better then physical.

Same thing applies to Nintendo, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Sony, EPIC, etc.

I'll always buy physical vs digital if the pricing is the same, but no issues with digital either, and it makes many things far more convenient. Not to mention you tend to see price drops and discounts on digital goods far more often then you used to for physical.

[Start_Running]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Hi,

I just want to say that I think its very bad that myself or an immediate family cannot transfer their games to another account. In my instance my brother passed away. He sent tons of money on games and because he passed away, I cannot have his account transferred to me or merged to my account.

If he wanteed you to have his stuiff he'd have willed it to you.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

This tells me that the games you buy are not games you actually own. Yes it's digital but it's not games you own.

You own a license to play the game. And that license is tied to your account which you do own, though the contract underwhich the account is created and maintained prohibits transfer. On paper. In practice. if your bro wanted you to have it, he'd have slipped you the password and various account details to access it.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Especially when paying full price for these titles. I think its an absolute waste that you can withhold a person hard earned money that was used to purchase games which in simple terms you own only for it to disappear if you die. The value of games he bought is basically gone and it cannot be transferred. It's EXTREMELY disappointing to me.

If thats the way he wanted it, then yeah it seems like a waste but, its his stuff and if he wants his account to stand unusued as the equivalent of a digital tombstone.. then thats his call innit?

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Same goes for me. If something happens to me. Why can't my son get these games so he can experience them since I purchased them at full price.

Then writev the account details down, Seal it in an envelop that is stapled to your will. Your son will have your account and all your games.

You really haven't actually given the matter much thought have you?

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Steam you need to revisit this policy. I think its extremely insensitive. I'm not saying share with anyone, but at least to immediate families like siblings or parents. This needs to change.

Yeah Steams not gonna get into that because the matter of inheritance is always a legal minefield. Because where there is no will then basically ANYONE in the family has equal claim to the stuff.

Which means Valve would have to be involved in the whole messy process.
So nope. The current sitch is, if you want someone to inherit your stuff, you pass the keys to them yourself.

If you don't then no one gets the stuff. which is quite fair.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

It's no wonder people go back to pirating games cause you never truly own the games that paid for with your hard earned money.

Regards
Faeez

Oh puhlease. Pirates gonna pirate no matter what. If your brother wanted you to have his stuff he;d have given you his stuff. He apparently didn't so tough bits. Movge on with your life and stop making grabby hands at other people's stuff. Even a deadman is entitled to his possessions.

[Zyphur]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Start_Running:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Hi,

I just want to say that I think its very bad that myself or an immediate family cannot transfer their games to another account. In my instance my brother passed away. He sent tons of money on games and because he passed away, I cannot have his account transferred to me or merged to my account.

If he wanteed you to have his stuiff he'd have willed it to you.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

This tells me that the games you buy are not games you actually own. Yes it's digital but it's not games you own.

You own a license to play the game. And that license is tied to your account which you do own, though the contract underwhich the account is created and maintained prohibits transfer. On paper. In practice. if your bro wanted you to have it, he'd have slipped you the password and various account details to access it.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Especially when paying full price for these titles. I think its an absolute waste that you can withhold a person hard earned money that was used to purchase games which in simple terms you own only for it to disappear if you die. The value of games he bought is basically gone and it cannot be transferred. It's EXTREMELY disappointing to me.

If thats the way he wanted it, then yeah it seems like a waste but, its his stuff and if he wants his account to stand unusued as the equivalent of a digital tombstone.. then thats his call innit?

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Same goes for me. If something happens to me. Why can't my son get these games so he can experience them since I purchased them at full price.

Then writev the account details down, Seal it in an envelop that is stapled to your will. Your son will have your account and all your games.

You really haven't actually given the matter much thought have you?

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Steam you need to revisit this policy. I think its extremely insensitive. I'm not saying share with anyone, but at least to immediate families like siblings or parents. This needs to change.

Yeah Steams not gonna get into that because the matter of inheritance is always a legal minefield. Because where there is no will then basically ANYONE in the family has equal claim to the stuff.

Which means Valve would have to be involved in the whole messy process.
So nope. The current sitch is, if you want someone to inherit your stuff, you pass the keys to them yourself.

If you don't then no one gets the stuff. which is quite fair.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

It's no wonder people go back to pirating games cause you never truly own the games that paid for with your hard earned money.

Regards
Faeez

Oh puhlease. Pirates gonna pirate no matter what. If your brother wanted you to have his stuff he;d have given you his stuff. He apparently didn't so tough bits. Movge on with your life and stop making grabby hands at other people's stuff. Even a deadman is entitled to his possessions.

I'm not going to respond to every thing you said, but it obviously seems to me like you think I want his games to play etc. You don't know me or my brother, my relationship to him or anything that is related to it. Or the actual reason why I wanted it. I mentioned in a previous message that even if I had his details to log into his account. That would have been fine and I realized that is actually better than what I initially thought of, but yes he didn't give it to me. We didn't get around to any of those types of discussions because the games etc isn't important. I know what's important and I know games etc is not, but like I said. You don't actually know me. Why I wanted it etc. I enough of my own stuff and I don't need to take other people's games. That's just stupid. My statement about pirating is true as well. Oh and last thing. There is no family fighting about who gets what etc. We don't do family like that. We prefer to preserve our loved ones things. You literally do not know anything. So yeah. Don't go ranting up a storm trying to make it seem like what I wanted to do here was a villains game. Cause it's not.

[Zyphur]

Oprindeligt skrevet af brian9824:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

I just feel that we have come to a point now where we don't own any games we pay full price.

You don't own any digital content, you technically don't own the disks either, you own a license to the game and the discs just contain the files needed to play it. Its just that digital goods let developers control their licensing better then physical.

Same thing applies to Nintendo, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Sony, EPIC, etc.

I'll always buy physical vs digital if the pricing is the same, but no issues with digital either, and it makes many things far more convenient. Not to mention you tend to see price drops and discounts on digital goods far more often then you used to for physical.

Thanks for the decent response. Really appreciate and maybe I have been looking at it the wrong way. You see me and my brother was close and maybe everyone here will see it as weird but I literally wanted to keep it just so that I had a last point of memory of something we enjoyed. Not to necessarily play them but to have something he enjoyed as a memory to me when I log in I could see the activity if that makes any sense? So I'm sorry if it maybe came across like I'm trying to gain something out of this. Its just a memory thing for me. Something to go back and see. Again thanks for your response.

[Start_Running]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

I'm not going to respond to every thing you said, but it obviously seems to me like you think I want his games to play etc.

Well I doubt you want to eaty them. It seems quiite clear from your post that you do wish you could get his games.. If that's not the case then you should maybe rephrase yourself to avoid the conclusion.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

You don't know me or my brother, my relationship to him or anything that is related to it. Or the actual reason why I wanted it. I mentioned in a previous message that even if I had his details to log into his account. That would have been fine and I realized that is actually better than what I initially thought of, but yes he didn't give it to me.

And thus. You have no claim to them,

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

We didn't get around to any of those types of discussions because the games etc isn't important. I know what's important and I know games etc is not, but like I said. You don't actually know me. Why I wanted it etc. I enough of my own stuff and I don't need to take other people's games.

Then why do you care whether or not he figuratively gets buried with his stuff?

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Oh and last thing. There is no family fighting about who gets what etc. We don't do family like that.

Said every family until the family house is up for grabs.\
What I said is Valve's policy is about avoiding any entanglement in such drama.
Even if it doesn't apply to your family, you're not the only family out there.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

We prefer to preserve our loved ones things. You literally do not know anything. So yeah. Don't go ranting up a storm trying to make it seem like what I wanted to do here was a villains game. Cause it's not.

Well then the way steam does things is the ultimate form of preservation. SO what's your problem?

You can say I don't know you all you want but the fact you made this thread kinda alreadty tips your hand. If you don't care then there's no problem, and if he wanted you or anyone else to have his stuff he'd have set that up. Valve is never going to put itself in a situation where it has to guess at the intents and desires of someone who they may not be able to confirm as dead.

[Brian9824]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Oprindeligt skrevet af brian9824:

You don't own any digital content, you technically don't own the disks either, you own a license to the game and the discs just contain the files needed to play it. Its just that digital goods let developers control their licensing better then physical.

Same thing applies to Nintendo, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Sony, EPIC, etc.

I'll always buy physical vs digital if the pricing is the same, but no issues with digital either, and it makes many things far more convenient. Not to mention you tend to see price drops and discounts on digital goods far more often then you used to for physical.

Thanks for the decent response. Really appreciate and maybe I have been looking at it the wrong way. You see me and my brother was close and maybe everyone here will see it as weird but I literally wanted to keep it just so that I had a last point of memory of something we enjoyed. Not to necessarily play them but to have something he enjoyed as a memory to me when I log in I could see the activity if that makes any sense? So I'm sorry if it maybe came across like I'm trying to gain something out of this. Its just a memory thing for me. Something to go back and see. Again thanks for your response.

I mean it sucks, but if you have access to his PC fair odds he left his mail auto signed in, and from there you could reset the password, etc.

If you have access to the equipment he used you might be able to pierce it together and get the info you need. Unfortunately Valve doesn't know and can't act on it.

[Zyphur]

Oprindeligt skrevet af brian9824:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Zyphur:

Thanks for the decent response. Really appreciate and maybe I have been looking at it the wrong way. You see me and my brother was close and maybe everyone here will see it as weird but I literally wanted to keep it just so that I had a last point of memory of something we enjoyed. Not to necessarily play them but to have something he enjoyed as a memory to me when I log in I could see the activity if that makes any sense? So I'm sorry if it maybe came across like I'm trying to gain something out of this. Its just a memory thing for me. Something to go back and see. Again thanks for your response.

I mean it sucks, but if you have access to his PC fair odds he left his mail auto signed in, and from there you could reset the password, etc.

If you have access to the equipment he used you might be able to pierce it together and get the info you need. Unfortunately Valve doesn't know and can't act on it.

Yeah. He left everything to me in his will, for example his gaming pc and everything is not something I'll play but I'd log in just to have a view of his last point of access. If it makes sense. All his private stuff I'd delete cause I value people's privacy and I respect too much to go that deep, but the gaming part would have been nice to 'relive' or just see the where he was in the games he always spoke about to me. I can't get into his pc cause of 2 factor authentication etc. And I doubt I'll be able to get into it. But thanks again. Really appreciate your response. I guess my post was just venting for the wrong reasons. Anyway take care and thanks for the clarity on the licensing etc.

[nullable]

One of the consequences of accounts being easy to create and really only requiring an email, was easy and convenient twenty years ago. However the consequence is that it's not a bank account and a lot of the rigorous processes handling identification and dealing with next of kin, just don't exist and were never really intended.

But as the Internet ages and accounts stop being throwaway or transitory things, well this isn't just a Steam problem. The level of anonymity people started out with might not be compatible with stuff like end of life management.

Accounts will either have to change to have strong ties to identities, or users will have to manage them well so intended recipients can access them without finding out the system doesn't allow for it, or has clunky proof of ownership processes next of kin won't always be able to meet. So something like a proper password manager where access is outlined in will instructions or something.

Still the intent of the user may not be compatible with the business if their intent is accounts aren't transferable and end of life means end of the account. Laws may have to be enacted to address some of the details.

[Zyphur]

Oprindeligt skrevet af nullable:

One of the consequences of accounts being easy to create and really only requiring an email, was easy and convenient twenty years ago. However the consequence is that it's not a bank account and a lot of the rigorous processes handling identification and dealing with next of kin, just don't exist and were never really intended.

But as the Internet ages and accounts stop being throwaway or transitory things, well this isn't just a Steam problem. The level of anonymity people started out with might not be compatible with stuff like end of life management.

Accounts will either have to change to have strong ties to identities, or users will have to manage them well so intended recipients can access them without finding out the system doesn't allow for it, or has clunky proof of ownership processes next of kin won't always be able to meet. So something like a proper password manager where access is outlined in will instructions or something.

Thanks for the response. I understand. I guess he never really thought about steam accounts cause it's not important for a will. Which I do agree but when things happened I tried keeping everything I could of him as remberence. It's the first time i lost someone so close to me. So yeah. But thanks again.

[Tanoomba]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Malfunctioning Robot:

They wont transfer the games to a different account, but they have no choice but to accept legal control of the account being passed to a new user when it is legally bequeathed. They don't have to like it, but they are STILL required to obey the law.

I have my doubts about this. Has anyone ever actually successfully bequeathed their Steamm account to someone else after passing?

[Start_Running]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Tanoomba:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Malfunctioning Robot:

They wont transfer the games to a different account, but they have no choice but to accept legal control of the account being passed to a new user when it is legally bequeathed. They don't have to like it, but they are STILL required to obey the law.

I have my doubts about this. Has anyone ever actually successfully bequeathed their Steamm account to someone else after passing?

And there's the thing.
Cause remember These accounts are non-transferable. Much in the same way you can't bequeath a life insurance policy, or your club membership to someone, same here.