Steam's New Policy Reveals You Don't Own Your Games Anymore California's Law Forces Transparency in Digital Purchases

Steam has updated its purchase agreements to clarify that customers are buying a license to access games, not actual ownership, following California's new digital ownership law. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2426 to prevent misleading sales practices in digital marketplaces. This regulation mandates clearer language in digital transactions, significantly impacting users across all states. Valve's transparency aims to reduce confusion over digital ownership, especially after incidents like Ubisoft revoking access to previously purchased games. Companies must now ensure consumers understand their limited rights in digital purchases.