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Mastering The Game Podcast

76: Steam Warning Customers About Purchasing A License

Season 1, Ep. 76
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Summary

In the latest episode of the Mastering the Game podcast, host Jermaine Harris discusses a recent change by Steam, the PC gaming platform, which now warns customers in their shopping cart when they are purchasing a license for a game instead of owning it outright. This update comes ahead of a California law set to take effect next year, requiring clearer notifications about the nature of digital game purchases. Jermaine appreciates Steam’s proactive approach but expresses frustration that most digital games are merely licenses, limiting users’ ability to play them indefinitely. While he understands that some games with online components may become unplayable if servers are shut down, he argues that all games should include offline features, except for those inherently dependent on online connectivity, like World of Warcraft. Overall, Harris emphasizes his dissatisfaction with not being able to access games he has purchased, regardless of whether they are digital or physical copies.

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