The ability to import games you already own into your steam library. (Not free)

[Fugus]

I understand that Steam is a business and in it to make money and as such, you have a vested interest in not allowing users to add games they already own to their account without buying it again. I think I have a decent compromise.

Give players the ability to import older games (with valid CD Key or disc in drive for the really old games that have no CD Key) or add newer games to their steam account for a processing fee.

I say this as I have a decent collection of older PC games from the 1990's and early 2000's that are all legit and would love to import them to my collection but not willing to pay the price they still want to buy them again (Bethesda is really greedy with their Quake prices since they bought IDSoftware & not paying to add Quake 2 to my library or its expansion when I have the CD still in the case right here).

Also, I have recently came across a copy of Grand Theft Auto 5 with the Rockstar pass and would love to import it into my current steam library but there is no real way to do it.

Would love to have steam offer the ability to submit your previous game key or other such way to verify along with maybe a $1-3 processing fee to add those games that you already own to your steam library.

I ask this because I know it is only a convenience to their end users more than anything, but many of us are OCD about having our collections well organized and easy to access if we can and being able to import them allows us more security if we ever lost or damaged the install discs at a later date.

And with the newer games that all require accounts with separate services, it also gives us access to a central place to keep it stored in our account when we import it.

[Lily]

I don't think Valve has the legal right to give away steam keys for other companies' games, though I could be wrong as I'm not a developer myself and don't know what the terms are of the contract they sign.

Developers can request keys that they can then distribute to previous purchasers, though. Which makes it the developer's prerogative to support holders of non-Steam licenses, not Valve's. If the rightsholder doesn't care to support previous purchasers then you're simply SOL.

[Tev]

Some devs considering "PC" and "Steam" separate platforms.

This cannot be enforced. If devs don't want to give you the ability to transfer your games over to Steam, then you're not doing it.

[Start_Running]

Valve cannot due to legal issues. All installation and such files must be uploaded and maintained by the publisher and the publisher only.

[Gwarsbane]

If you have CD keys for games you already own but are not on steam you could just try the key in steam, some times it will take it some times it won't. Thats not steams doing that is upto the devs/publishers.

You could try contacting the devs/publishers in the games discussion area and find out if there is a way to trade in a CD key for a steam key. Again some might do this, but its not up to steam its upto the devs/publishers.

[Fugus]

That sucks, because I would really like to import some games I legally own into my account and most developers wouldn't think to issue a Steam Key I would think because then wouldn't steam be required to get a cut of the purchase price of that steam key?

So this feature is basically a landmine of possible legal issues......

[viora]

引用自 Fugus：

That sucks, because I would really like to import some games I legally own into my account and most developers wouldn't think to issue a Steam Key I would think because then wouldn't steam be required to get a cut of the purchase price of that steam key?

So this feature is basically a landmine of possible legal issues......

Valve can't just up and distribute Steam keys for other games. If you have a Valve game you can use its CD key to acquire it on Steam. Otherwise, you'll have to get in touch with the devs of said game, as they can produce an unlimited amount of Steam keys for their game free of charge. Keep in mind that if you bought, say, GTA V without Steam support on a discount, you won't be able to get a Steam key for that game as they're two separate editions, and that can apply for many games.

[Gwarsbane]

Here is a list (not sure how current it is) of all the game keys you can put into steam to get steam versions of the games.
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-wusf-3601

[Fugus]

引用自 Gwarsbane：

Here is a list (not sure how current it is) of all the game keys you can put into steam to get steam versions of the games.
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-wusf-3601

Yeah, my old Quake 2 doesn't have a CD key with it at all and my other Quake CDs don't import, neither does my Ghost Recons....

Tried getting a hold of Ubisoft once to try to import the Ghost Recons into either Steam or Uplay and was basically told to kick rocks and buy it. And Bethesda is getting kinda notorious for their greed. Still trying to charge $10 for Quake 2 made around 1995 is robbery at this point.

[Satoru]

Ask the publishres to add the keys to Steam

Steam does not control that

The publishers do

[Start_Running]

That's normal. When you buy a physical copy you aren't really buying it from Ubisoft. You're buying it from the retailer. Ubisoft themselves may not have any record of the CD key all.. especially if you didn't register the key with them when you bought it.

Secondly the Steam version isn't ncessisarily the version on your disk and they may for some reason or the other consider it a different product.

Talk to the publisher, and if they say no.. then. You're outta luck. You still have the CD you just can't access the steam version.

No real loss. You can install it and add it to your library as a non-steam game, and steam will put a launcher link in your library. THat's abouyt as much as they can do.

[cjmyers2]

You can also add a shortcut to non-steam games that you own into your Steam setup.

It doesn't give you download or update access, but some people may like to see and be able to launch all of their games on Steam.

Directions here:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2219-YDJV-5557

[Fugus]

I know about adding non-steam games like that. I was wanting the ability to actually add games I already own and physically have the disc to or games that requires online services that steam also sells onto my steam library, but basically that won't happen on steams end. oh well.

[Start_Running]

引用自 Fugus：

I know about adding non-steam games like that. I was wanting the ability to actually add games I already own and physically have the disc to or games that requires online services that steam also sells onto my steam library, but basically that won't happen on steams end. oh well.

That as said, needs to be done by the publisher. Keys that old are not Steam Keys so Steam wouldn't kno one from the other. Only the publishers would know but once they game is beyond a certain age and there was no registration.. even they lose track of what the CD-Keys were.

[76561198001062896]

引用自 Gwarsbane：

If you have CD keys for games you already own but are not on steam you could just try the key in steam, some times it will take it some times it won't. Thats not steams doing that is upto the devs/publishers.

You could try contacting the devs/publishers in the games discussion area and find out if there is a way to trade in a CD key for a steam key. Again some might do this, but its not up to steam its upto the devs/publishers.

theres already a list of retail games you can activate on steam: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-wusf-3601

[76561198001062896]

引用自 Fugus：

I know about adding non-steam games like that. I was wanting the ability to actually add games I already own and physically have the disc to or games that requires online services that steam also sells onto my steam library, but basically that won't happen on steams end. oh well.

because its not as easy as you think and not because Valve is the evil boogeyman

引用自 Fugus：

I understand that Steam is a business and in it to make money and as such, you have a vested interest in not allowing users to add games they already own to their account without buying it again. I think I have a decent compromise.

Give players the ability to import older games (with valid CD Key or disc in drive for the really old games that have no CD Key) or add newer games to their steam account for a processing fee.

I say this as I have a decent collection of older PC games from the 1990's and early 2000's that are all legit and would love to import them to my collection but not willing to pay the price they still want to buy them again (Bethesda is really greedy with their Quake prices since they bought IDSoftware & not paying to add Quake 2 to my library or its expansion when I have the CD still in the case right here).

Also, I have recently came across a copy of Grand Theft Auto 5 with the Rockstar pass and would love to import it into my current steam library but there is no real way to do it.

Would love to have steam offer the ability to submit your previous game key or other such way to verify along with maybe a $1-3 processing fee to add those games that you already own to your steam library.

I ask this because I know it is only a convenience to their end users more than anything, but many of us are OCD about having our collections well organized and easy to access if we can and being able to import them allows us more security if we ever lost or damaged the install discs at a later date.

And with the newer games that all require accounts with separate services, it also gives us access to a central place to keep it stored in our account when we import it.

simply put theres not much in for Valve nor for the publishers. And do I really need to remind everyone that Gabe Newell is not a wizard who can magically transfer your retail games to steam?

also what about games where the IP is basically stuck in a limbo, such as N.Ol.L.F and alikes?