3 ms·

There was confusion around this?

dmonitor 2y ago
I'm sure some less knowledgeable people weren't aware of the distinction. There is a proposed California law to make the distinction more clear: don't use the word "purchase" unless you make clear that it is a license you are purchasing, not the game.
- Rebelgecko 2y ago
  Not just proposed, the CA law is going into effect in a few months
- wordofx 2y ago
  If there is confusion then it’s a probably a good thing. Just kinda raised an eyebrow that there was confusion.
- the_gorilla 2y ago
  It's not that the consumers weren't aware of the distinction between buy and rent, just that companies outright started to lie about the meaning of "purchase".
happytoexplain 2y ago
It seems obvious that the distinction between buying a game digitally and buying a license to play a game digitally could be confusing to the average person looking at a digital storefront. Are you being facetious? (honestly asking - like, "gee, who would have thought there could be confusion?")
- benoau 2y ago
  A lot of Steam customers simply haven't thought very far ahead: what happens when they die? As a twenty-year old company there is certainly a reckoning on the horizon as their users age-out and start passing in higher numbers. What happens when Gabe Newell dies is another very important question that adds some urgency - one or two decades - to establishing more balanced policies.
  - polski-g 2y ago
    Steam says they won't pass the library to heirs, but steam will do whatever the probate judge tells them to.
- wordofx 2y ago
  Steam has never offered offline installers. And even offline play requires you to be online for offline to work for a period of time before being online again. If the service disappears so does your catalog. I thought it was common knowledge you’re only buying a license to play via steam. You never own the game outright forever.
bentley 2y ago
I think a lot of people reasonably believe that “buying” digital content provides continuous, permanent access to that content, as opposed to the common alternative of either paying for a time‐limited “rental” or for a monthly streaming subscription that obviously expires access as soon as one stops paying. Such people are taken by surprise when it turns out companies can take away your “bought” content simply by virtue of changing licensing agreements or corporate structure without public input. Some recent cases: • Crunchyroll and Funimation merged. People who had “permanent” digital copies purchased from Funimation lost them. • Sony’s license for Discovery Channel content was not renewed, so all Discovery videos people had purchased (most notably, 20 seasons of Mythbusters) were removed from customers’ libraries. • Ubisoft shut down the servers for The Crew and removed it from purchasers’ Steam libraries, despite the presence of a 20‐hour single‐player campaign that was online only for no good reason. Maybe people will get used to this and consider all purchases ephemeral. I hope not. That’s why I buy and advocate for DRM‐free media.
Dylan16807 2y ago
How many people do you know that have thought through the implications of Steam versus GOG installation and authentication methods? Yes there was confusion, and the warning will probably help.

I'm sure some less knowledgeable people weren't aware of the distinction. There is a proposed California law to make the distinction more clear: don't use the word "purchase" unless you make clear that it is a license you are purchasing, not the game.

Rebelgecko 2y ago
Not just proposed, the CA law is going into effect in a few months
wordofx 2y ago
If there is confusion then it’s a probably a good thing. Just kinda raised an eyebrow that there was confusion.
the_gorilla 2y ago
It's not that the consumers weren't aware of the distinction between buy and rent, just that companies outright started to lie about the meaning of "purchase".

happytoexplain 2y ago

It seems obvious that the distinction between buying a game digitally and buying a license to play a game digitally could be confusing to the average person looking at a digital storefront. Are you being facetious? (honestly asking - like, "gee, who would have thought there could be confusion?")

benoau 2y ago
A lot of Steam customers simply haven't thought very far ahead: what happens when they die? As a twenty-year old company there is certainly a reckoning on the horizon as their users age-out and start passing in higher numbers. What happens when Gabe Newell dies is another very important question that adds some urgency - one or two decades - to establishing more balanced policies.
- polski-g 2y ago
  Steam says they won't pass the library to heirs, but steam will do whatever the probate judge tells them to.
wordofx 2y ago
Steam has never offered offline installers. And even offline play requires you to be online for offline to work for a period of time before being online again. If the service disappears so does your catalog. I thought it was common knowledge you’re only buying a license to play via steam. You never own the game outright forever.

bentley 2y ago

I think a lot of people reasonably believe that “buying” digital content provides continuous, permanent access to that content, as opposed to the common alternative of either paying for a time‐limited “rental” or for a monthly streaming subscription that obviously expires access as soon as one stops paying. Such people are taken by surprise when it turns out companies can take away your “bought” content simply by virtue of changing licensing agreements or corporate structure without public input. Some recent cases: • Crunchyroll and Funimation merged. People who had “permanent” digital copies purchased from Funimation lost them. • Sony’s license for Discovery Channel content was not renewed, so all Discovery videos people had purchased (most notably, 20 seasons of Mythbusters) were removed from customers’ libraries. • Ubisoft shut down the servers for The Crew and removed it from purchasers’ Steam libraries, despite the presence of a 20‐hour single‐player campaign that was online only for no good reason. Maybe people will get used to this and consider all purchases ephemeral. I hope not. That’s why I buy and advocate for DRM‐free media.

Dylan16807 2y ago

How many people do you know that have thought through the implications of Steam versus GOG installation and authentication methods? Yes there was confusion, and the warning will probably help.