#Steam license

Valve has updated its Steam store checkout process with a new, more transparent disclosure, stating that when users buy a game, they are actually purchasing a license to access that digital content, not ownership of the game itself. This clarification, which was first reported by Engadget, appears on the payment screen of the Steam desktop app. Steam users began noticing this change earlier this week, with many taking to Reddit to share the update. The message reads: "A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam," highlighting the shift toward better transparency in the digital marketplace. The law will require digital storefronts, like Steam, to explicitly state that customers are only purchasing a license for digital media. It prohibits digital platforms from using terms like "buy" or "purchase" unless they specify that what’s being sold is merely a license. Digital storefronts will also need to link to the terms and conditions of the license, which Valve appears to already be doing with this update. The Steam Summer Sale kicked off last June 23, and some of the deals on games are just too good to pass up. Read more in our articles including "You’re Buying a License, Not a Game - Steam Clarifies" and "Steam Summer Sale Guide (2017): The best deals so far".