Steam Games and Inheritance: A Legal Limbo
As the popular gaming platform Steam continues to age, the question of what happens to your extensive digital game collection after you pass away has become a topic of discussion. Unfortunately, according to a recent Steam support response, accounts and games on Steam are non-transferable, meaning that your collection may be lost in the digital ether once you’re gone. While there may be potential loopholes, such as leaving instructions for your descendants to access your account, the Steam Subscriber Agreement prohibits the transfer of account ownership without explicit permission from Valve. This lack of inheritability not only affects personal estate planning but also has implications for video game preservation efforts. Without a clear legal path for the transfer of digital game licenses, the preservation of digital-born video games remains a challenge.
The Future of Digital Game Inheritance
With the inability to transfer digital game licenses becoming increasingly apparent, gamers are faced with the reality that their extensive game collections may not be passed down to their descendants. While Steam users may attempt to work around this issue by leaving instructions for accessing their accounts or bequeathing physical devices with downloaded games, the legalities surrounding account ownership remain a barrier. This lack of inheritability not only poses challenges for personal estate planning but also raises concerns for video game preservation efforts. Without a clear solution for transferring digital game licenses, the future of preserving digital-born video games remains uncertain.
Challenges in Video Game Preservation
As gamers grapple with the issue of digital game inheritability, the broader implications for video game preservation efforts come to light. The inability to transfer digital game licenses poses significant challenges for organizations like the Video Game History Foundation, which seek to preserve digital-born video games for future generations. With subscriber agreements restricting the transfer of digital game licenses, the preservation of these games becomes a legal gray area. As the gaming industry continues to shift towards digital distribution, finding a solution for preserving digital game collections becomes increasingly urgent for both gamers and preservationists alike.
