Do we actually 'own' our Steam games ?

neoglow · 24 Dec 2012 at 10:17

When we buy our games from Steam, are we actually buying them to own them for keeps or are we paying for the service to play them on the Steam platform?

Lets say (hypothetically) Valve go bust one day and Steam closes (lets hope not).

What would happen to our library of games?

Mp4 · 24 Dec 2012 at 10:20

We do not own our games more of a rent of licence on the steam platform i think

Diplexbullet19 · 24 Dec 2012 at 10:23

My guess is someone would buy the company out and keep it running so we should keep the games.

Amraam · 24 Dec 2012 at 10:25

You never own a game, it's always jsut the right to play it via a license. However, didn't a new EU law emerge that makes it illegal for companies to stop you from selling on licenses?

imb4tman · 24 Dec 2012 at 10:25

As above, you are only purchasing a licence to be used in accordance with their terms and conditions. I believe that Steam have said that in the case of them going bankrupt they would do everything they can to allow users to keep downloading games previously bought games.

But the games along with the download service are an asset and surely would be taken from them if they did go bust and then it would be up to another company to decide what you can and cannot do with them.

Antony101 · 24 Dec 2012 at 10:33

imb4tman said:
As above, you are only purchasing a licence to be used in accordance with their terms and conditions. I believe that Steam have said that in the case of them going bankrupt they would do everything they can to allow users to keep downloading games previously bought games.

But the games along with the download service are an asset and surely would be taken from them if they did go bust and then it would be up to another company to decide what you can and cannot do with them.

Steam go bankrupt? AHAHAHAHA.

neoglow · 24 Dec 2012 at 10:37

imb4tman said:
As above, you are only purchasing a licence to be used in accordance with their terms and conditions. I believe that Steam have said that in the case of them going bankrupt they would do everything they can to allow users to keep downloading games previously bought games.

But the games along with the download service are an asset and surely would be taken from them if they did go bust and then it would be up to another company to decide what you can and cannot do with them.

Thats a good point, hadnt thought of that, probably a good idea to download all your games then, at least you then have the game installed.

bushmins · 24 Dec 2012 at 10:44

imb4tman said:
I believe that Steam have said that in the case of them going bankrupt they would do everything they can to allow users to keep downloading games previously bought games.

Of course they would say that, they dont want their player base going else where. If it came to the crunch you would get sweet fa. Steam is a business not your friend.
I dont buy many games from steam, most are bought from outside steam but have to be registered to stream, they are not making as much as people think. Like the whole 'WoW has 12 million players' that was Blizzards running thing for years. I(t makes you think you are part of something big and secure when really your not.

jonneymendoza · 24 Dec 2012 at 10:53

Antony101 said:
Steam go bankrupt? AHAHAHAHA.

Lots of other big companies have gone BUST so dont be surpised if Steam does.

Kyo · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:16

jonneymendoza said:
Lots of other big companies have gone BUST so dont be surpised if Steam does.

Man that a scary thought :eek:

barmyllama · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:27

jonneymendoza said:
Lots of other big companies have gone BUST so dont be surpised if Steam does.

The difference is Steam has almost no running costs compared to the income it generates.

It's not like Comet, they don't have to buy, store and transport stock, they don't have any expensive retail outlets rent and staff, their margins are high and it's the game's producers that are taking all the financial risks.

Steam must be one of the most profitable companies in the world, just like iTunes.

Teaf · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:31

Steam would have a queue of companies trying to buy it should it ever even hint at bankruptcy.

dreigns · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:32

barmyllama said:
The difference is Steam has almost no running costs compared to the income it generates.

It's not like Comet, they don't have to buy, store and transport stock, they don't have any expensive retail outlets rent and staff, their margins are high and it's the game's producers that are taking all the financial risks.

Steam must be one of the most profitable companies in the world, just like iTunes.

plus gabe has a bed made of gold cos he makes so much money

Realy just look at the amount of ppl online at any given time its 4-5 mil so theres a lot of users buying games every day plus some of them games they own and earn 100% of the money from them

Tunney · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:33

barmyllama said:
The difference is Steam has almost no running costs compared to the income it generates.

I'd disagree with that. I once got Medieval: Total War in a Steam sale for £1.49. It was a 12GB download. Servers and bandwidth costs money and I don't see how Steam turned a profit on that sale.

dreigns · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:41

Tunney said:
I'd disagree with that. I once got Medieval: Total War in a Steam sale for £1.49. It was a 12GB download. Servers and bandwidth costs money and I don't see how Steam turned a profit on that sale.

they buy bulk bandwidth even on pound they would have made money its not like the costs me and you have they get realy cheap deals because they buy so much valve knew what they were doing all them years ago when they started steam before the people wanted to download games.

In another 5 years our bandwidth costs will half and theres will get cheaper
meaning cheaper games, better deals and more money for them the only real danger is a big company trying to take them over and many companys will want to sooner or later

Mr Krugga · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:43

Antony101 said:
Steam go bankrupt? AHAHAHAHA.

You're putting a lot of faith into industry that has debatable future. Whilst Steam is doing great now, with the number of subscribers still on the rise, it's still part of the private company that will most likely not last forever.

I guess it would be promising if Steam expanded onto consoles market, released their own console (which is not happening any time soon), went public or acquired some prospective gaming studios.

Its business model is great, but it's currently being copied by a dozen of other companies.

imb4tman said:
I believe that Steam have said that in the case of them going bankrupt they would do everything they can to allow users to keep downloading games previously bought games.

But it's not in the Terms of Service.

But the games along with the download service are an asset and surely would be taken from them if they did go bust and then it would be up to another company to decide what you can and cannot do with them.

Precisely. We don't own the licenses, although it could be argued, since we have full access to the game keys (which are often enough to activate the game).

mmj_uk · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:51

jonneymendoza said:
Lots of other big companies have gone BUST so dont be surpised if Steam does.

Especially now that they're starting to tread on Microsoft's toes.

KIA · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:55

Tunney said:
I'd disagree with that. I once got Medieval: Total War in a Steam sale for £1.49. It was a 12GB download. Servers and bandwidth costs money and I don't see how Steam turned a profit on that sale.

It doesn't cost a HUGE CDN £1.49 to deliver 12GB.

PMKeates · 24 Dec 2012 at 12:00

Do you ever own anything? Is private ownership a fallacy?

orderoftheflame · 24 Dec 2012 at 12:00

Mr Krugga said:
.But it's not in the Terms of Service.

Gabe Newell has said that there is already a system in place that will allow everyone to access to their games should Valve and Steam cease to operate.