What happens to your Steam games when you die?

spengos · 26 Jan 2017 at 20:13

Ryan0r said:
Sooo... I'm not very well and might not be around for too much longer. My Steam library, like many people's, is full of games I've bought but never installed or played. Can any of these be gifted? I'd like others to be able to make use of them, but seems to be the case that once they're activated on your accountant, regardless of installing, they're stuck there?

Any point in contacting Steam support to see if they can arrange something? (see that they haven't been played and make them giftable or something)

Seems a waste

Very sad to hear.

Are you able to say what's wrong with you?

Steampunk · 26 Jan 2017 at 20:18

Ryan0r said:
Sooo... I'm not very well and might not be around for too much longer. My Steam library, like many people's, is full of games I've bought but never installed or played. Can any of these be gifted? I'd like others to be able to make use of them, but seems to be the case that once they're activated on your accountant, regardless of installing, they're stuck there?

Any point in contacting Steam support to see if they can arrange something? (see that they haven't been played and make them giftable or something)

Seems a waste

In the end, you don't own the games, they are merely licensed to you. I would guess the licence includes a clause that only you can use the games, and when you die, the licence is void.

All you can really do is pass the account name/password to the person you want to have it, and don't tell Steam. You can't spread the individual titles about to various people.

MarkeR · 26 Jan 2017 at 20:28

If you have 2 step verification turned on (which everyone should have anyway), you will need to make siure the person you leave login details has access to that phone, so they can change the email address associated with the account..

Good luck man!

Malevolence · 26 Jan 2017 at 20:59

Was pretty interesting. Starts at 16:45

Then after the break, sure you paid for it, but do you own it? We talk to professor and author Aaron Perzanowski about the changing way businesses are selling you products without handing over all the rights to use the media the way you want to.

https://www.rt.com/shows/boom-bust/375114-canada-arms-trump-promises/

Shame Ameera David wasn't presenting though.

Timber · 27 Jan 2017 at 03:26

Timber said:
I read a thread on NeoGaf recently where someone wanted to get control of a Steam account of a close friend who had recently died for their family members...I'll try and find it when I get on my PC later.

Sorry to quote myself but found the thread with the information I was referring to:

NeoGaf thread link - 'a friend of mine passed away and i'd like to access his steam account'
Steam Forum post (not a support page) - clarification on the current policy which is that accounts can only be permanently deactiviated and not transferred or refunded

Therefore as mentioned the only real option is pass the account on.

Sorry to read about your bad news.

Richdog · 27 Jan 2017 at 04:20

Ryan0r said:
Sooo... I'm not very well and might not be around for too much longer. My Steam library, like many people's, is full of games I've bought but never installed or played. Can any of these be gifted? I'd like others to be able to make use of them, but seems to be the case that once they're activated on your accountant, regardless of installing, they're stuck there?

Any point in contacting Steam support to see if they can arrange something? (see that they haven't been played and make them giftable or something)

Seems a waste

Sorry to hear about your situation (if you're serious). It would be interesting to see what happens if you left it in a will... could it become legally enforceable as the games are your purchased property?

Malevolence · 27 Jan 2017 at 06:26

Richdog said:
It would be interesting to see what happens if you left it in a will... could it become legally enforceable as the games are your purchased property?

I suppose you could just leave the log-in details in the will too.

koooowweeee · 27 Jan 2017 at 06:48

No chance your going to get better?

I've messaged Steam support about 2 years ago..... Still waiting...

Heard a few times there useless. My son forgot his account details. Now he's lost his account. Was only a few cheap games on it but it's not the point

SPG · 27 Jan 2017 at 07:39

Big problem with digital media.

I guess in the long run its only going to make physical media all the more valuable in the next 50-100 years.

Semple · 27 Jan 2017 at 08:50

I think companies are starting to adapt to passing on digital content in such things as wills.
At the end of the day, they can't be expecting people to spend thousands on content and not be allowed to pass it on. Seems rather unfair.

Sp00n · 27 Jan 2017 at 09:12

TNA said:
Is it me or does that gif seem a little out of place considering... Even if not directed at OP

and now you've quoted it.

I would just give the credentials to someone

NeverWinter · 27 Jan 2017 at 10:30

MarkeR said:
If you have 2 step verification turned on (which everyone should have anyway), you will need to make siure the person you leave login details has access to that phone, so they can change the email address associated with the account..

Good luck man!

Yeah, you'll need to leave the account details for everything related to the Steam account I'm guessing. Email address it's linked to as well?

carrot1401 · 27 Jan 2017 at 10:47

The only answer I have (for all online accounts in general) is using something like a password manager with a stupidly long master password, which my dad has on a usb drive, along with some other extra details (phone password, who to contact if the time comes so all my friends knew etc etc) for if the time comes.

JeditOjanen · 27 Jan 2017 at 13:32

Ryan0r said:
Sooo... I'm not very well and might not be around for too much longer. My Steam library, like many people's, is full of games I've bought but never installed or played. Can any of these be gifted? I'd like others to be able to make use of them, but seems to be the case that once they're activated on your accountant, regardless of installing, they're stuck there?

Any point in contacting Steam support to see if they can arrange something? (see that they haven't been played and make them giftable or something)

Seems a waste

Sorry to hear it.

I heard recently of a similar case where the account of a man who had been sharing with his young grandson was closed when he died and the parents tried (and failed) to get Valve to transfer it to the boy. One thing that did come up was that accounts can be transferred on death, but only to your children. So if you have kids, that's an option at least.

Steampunk · 27 Jan 2017 at 16:02

JeditOjanen said:
Sorry to hear it.

I heard recently of a similar case where the account of a man who had been sharing with his young grandson was closed when he died and the parents tried (and failed) to get Valve to transfer it to the boy. One thing that did come up was that accounts can be transferred on death, but only to your children. So if you have kids, that's an option at least.

If they've accepted the premise of someone inheriting their parent's Steam library, it's only a tiny step to saying that you can leave it to someone via your will.

SC0TTRS · 27 Jan 2017 at 16:14

Sorry to hear this OP :-(

Never really thought of it when it comes to Steam/Orgin

Can't you just leave all log on details needed to access these accounts and just change name/ bank details and other info when the time comes?

What's stopping me logging in now and changing account name to someone else?!?

Amatsubu · 27 Jan 2017 at 23:10

Very sad to hear this

I hope you won't have to gift your account anytime soon.

TNA · 27 Jan 2017 at 23:14

Sp00n said:
and now you've quoted it.

I would just give the credentials to someone

Fixed.

Timber · 27 Jan 2017 at 23:50

JeditOjanen said:
I heard recently of a similar case where the account of a man who had been sharing with his young grandson was closed when he died and the parents tried (and failed) to get Valve to transfer it to the boy. One thing that did come up was that accounts can be transferred on death, but only to your children. So if you have kids, that's an option at least.

Everything I've read so far suggests that a Steam account will not be transferred. Another link here, in addition to what I posted earlier: http://segmentnext.com/2016/01/13/what-will-happen-to-your-steam-library-if-you-die-the-answer-may-not-please-you/

In one other example Blizzard were much more helpful so it may be possible to request other gaming accounts are transferred.

Spacedeck · 28 Jan 2017 at 00:11

Sorry to hear about your situation.

Why will they not allow them to be transferred? Is it because someone could fraudulently make a death certificate? I think it's very sad that we don't have control over the things we buy, yet the price always stays the same.