Steam Clarifies Game Purchases Are Licenses, Not Ownership

A new California law prompts Steam to inform users that buying a game grants a license, not full ownership.

Steam has added a banner to its checkout page, stating that game purchases grant a license to use the software, not ownership of the game itself.
This change is in response to California's AB 2426 law, which mandates transparency in digital goods transactions.
The banner aims to clarify that, while users can play games on Steam, they do not own the games and access can be revoked by the developer.
GOG, a competing platform, highlighted its policy of providing offline installers, ensuring users retain access to purchased games even if removed from the platform.
This development has reignited the debate over digital ownership versus licensing in the gaming industry, with many players expressing concerns over control of their purchased content.