Did you know that in the vast majority of digital stores, your video games do not belong to you? When you buy them, you obtain a license to use and they can be revoked at any time. That is the reality hidden behind the Terms and Conditions that almost all of us accept. That is why the State of California has been the first to want you to know the truth about digital stores, as it will require companies from January 1, 2025 to include a warning about the purchase of titles on these platforms.
Just yesterday we published that the first to admit that you are not the owner of the games you buy is Steam. Before acquiring any title, Valve includes a message indicating that you are obtaining a license to use, something that complies with California law. This indicates that all digital stores are prohibited from using terms associated with ‘buying’ or ‘acquiring’, unless it is visibly stated that the product you are about to buy really does not belong to you, but you obtain a license to use.
In the coming weeks, we will see more companies adapting to California’s legislation. While Valve has taken the lead, GOG has turned to its social networks to boast about one of its great advantages as a DRM-free digital store, and in short, it reminds you as a player and the rest of the stores that no one will take away the video games you buy because you receive an offline installer that allows you to install and play the title wherever you want.
GOG reminds you that you will never lose the video games you buy
GOG points out the following in a recent post on the social network X: “Since paid banners are in fashion, we are thinking of putting one ourselves. What do you think of this one?” they first say about the message that Steam is including before buying a game, which says. “The purchase of a digital product grants a license for the selected product on Steam”, but GOG wonders if the following banner is a good way to remind players of the major virtue of their store. “When you buy a digital product on GOG you get its offline installers, which cannot be taken away from you“.
This way, GOG positions itself as the most important store if you want to preserve your video games, thanks to its policies of not including DRM, offering offline installers, flexible refunds, support for mods, and much more.
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