Steam games: “A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam.” This message has started appearing to buyers from the Steam gaming platform. While this has been Steam’s policy for over a decade, users have widely disregarded the statement as not everyone reads the terms and conditions (the 27-page agreement) before shopping for a video game.

“Your license confers no title or ownership of third-party videogames” underscores Steam’s subscriber agreement. What you own is a license, the opportunity to play a game, as you follow the platform rules – Steam’s agreement contract, which you have to accept if you wish to play a game purchased on their platform.

While there have been no reports of Steam removing games from people’s libraries, people have lost access to their accounts due to forgetting their password or getting banned from the gaming platform for breaching their terms of service. Such a thing couldn’t happen if you owned a physical copy, for example. Furthermore, Valve might remove users’ games in the future using a vague clause in its contract: “Valve may restrict or cancel your Account or any particular Subscription(s) at any time in the event that (a) Valve ceases providing such Subscriptions to similarly situated Subscribers generally”.

If you die, your Steam videogame dies with you

Steam has confirmed that games “cannot be transferred via a will.” Additionally, if you scrupulously follow the Steam agreement contract, you can’t reveal your login credentials to anyone, so you can’t give someone your account.

“You may not reveal, share or otherwise allow others to use your password or account except as otherwise specifically authorised by Valve (the company that owns Steam). You are responsible for the confidentiality of your login and password and for the security of your computer system,” explains the company.

Nonetheless, Valve has now removed forced arbitration clause from its contract, so it is possible someone gains access to their defunct Steam library through a court case in the future. Moreover, European courts have been actively fighting to protect consumers; last month, Fortnite owner Epic Games (and Steam’s main competitor) was hit with an EU consumer complaint accusing it of misleading gamers into spending money.

Steam lets you share your games

Last month, Steam announced that every user would be able to access its “family” program. Allowing users to share games with five friends or family members that live under the same roof. Nonetheless, similarly to owning a physical copy, only one person can play a particular game simultaneously. However, six family members can play six different games from one account simultaneously. Most games can be accessed through Steam’s family program, but there are some exceptions. Game developers can opt out of the program if they choose to.