Reddit users reveal a massive problem with your Steam library

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Lately, Steam users on Reddit found themselves pondering an intriguing ethical question: Is it morally acceptable to utilize a deceased person’s account? The initial query originated from a son who lost his father. A couple of days before he passed away, the father suggested a game to his son. Now, the son is contemplating whether he could access his father’s account and finish all the game’s achievements as a tribute to him. The conversation on Reddit sparked numerous captivating discussions about the prominent PC gaming platform, Steam.

What happens to a Steam account when the owner passes away? Don’t contact support

…DO NOT CONTACT SUPPORT.” This advice is crucial because it pertains to Steam’s licensing rules.

On Steam, it’s important to note that you don’t have actual ownership of the games in your library. This point has been emphasized more recently due to a statement added during the checkout process. When you view your cart on Steam, towards the right-hand side, just beneath the “Continue to payment” button, you’ll notice a line that says: “Purchasing a digital product grants you a license for the product on Steam.” The ownership of digital products is currently a subject of debate in courts, with cases like the one against Ubisoft over their termination of The Crew racing game being particularly notable. Regrettably, this issue isn’t sitting well with many players either. If preserving your game ownership matters to you, consider joining the “Stop Killing Games” campaign and the “Save Videogames” initiative for support.

The absence of account ownership is crucial in the context of this Reddit post, as one user highlighted: “…I’ve noticed some users claim that when they contacted Steam support regarding this issue, Valve closed their account.” In such a scenario, it would represent a deeply regrettable turn of events. The original poster wouldn’t be able to finish those achievements, and moreover, they would forfeit access to something personally meaningful to them. This sentiment was swiftly echoed by the rest of the Reddit comment section, reinforcing the importance of this issue for the poster.

Other parts of the conversation delved deeper into various topics. Some users mentioned their intention to transfer their accounts to their offspring upon their demise. Additionally, there were discussions about Steam’s guidelines regarding account duration and ownership. For instance, a user posed a hypothetical question: What would Steam do with an account that reaches a century? Since most users provide their birthdates during sign-up, in principle, this is something Steam could monitor. However, it’s important to note that Steam has not been operational long enough for such a scenario to occur.

As digital purchases and ownership of games grow more important for today’s gamers, it remains to be seen how laws and regulations will develop in the future. Ideally, they would prioritize the interests of consumers. In the meantime, platforms like Good Old Games offer an alternative where you can buy the game itself, not just a license.

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2025-06-25 01:32