Highlights
- Sorry, gamers - Steam says you can't pass down your account in a will. Digital game collections may not be inheritable.
- Users are frustrated by Steam's stance. Some suggest workarounds for sharing games.
- Digital distribution limits ownership - users buy a license, not the product.
Steam has bad news for anyone who has considered what they'll have done with their digital games and belongings after passing away. A recent conversation with Steam seemingly indicates that trying to give a Steam library to a loved one through a will could face problems.
Many people write wills in order to share their wishes as to what happens to their belongings after their passing. For gamers, this often includes large collections of games, consoles, and peripherals, which can lead to loved ones inheriting game collections. However, digital distribution poses a problem, and Steam is included in that.
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A Steam support conversation has been shared on the internet, where a user asked if they could potentially transfer an account in a will. Steam support responded, stating that transferring an account or the games on a Steam account isn't possible, due to the company's policies. While sharing Steam libraries is possible, outright transferring an account via a will isn't, at least at this point in time.
How the Gaming Community is Taking the News
Users commenting on the situation have mixed reactions to this reveal. Many seem frustrated by the news. Several others have suggested workarounds for Steam specifically, talking about giving another user the login and simply changing the payment card (should the inheritor care to continue buying games) without notifying Steam that the account ownership had technically changed. However, others pointed out that while this could theoretically be a workaround in the short-term, the long-term is another matter. A Steam account being in use past the length of an average person's lifespan could set off some flags for the company and potentially lead to the account being shut down. There's also no certainty that every single title ever released on the platform will remain available for download as the decades roll by.
It remains to be seen if Steam's stance on this matter will change in the future, or if Steam support isn't providing an accurate answer. However, this just highlights an underlying problem with the purchase and distribution of digital files and games. Gamers were upset not too long ago when PlayStation planned to remove Discovery TV shows, for example.
Digital distribution, in general, often carries the limitation that users aren't really buying the product, but rather buying a license to access it, which can potentially be removed at any time. While laws for digital products might change to address this in the future, for now, gamers may want to focus on passing down physical copies of games and equipment rather than hoping to share digital game content.
Steam
Steam is a digital video game storefront and program developed by Valve that allows gamers to purchase, play, and mod their titles all through one convenient program.
- Brand
- Valve
- Original Release Date
- September 12, 2003
