A UK tribunal has given the go-ahead to a £656 million ($901 million) collective action lawsuit targeting Valve over alleged anti-competitive practices on PC storefront Steam.
We could wake up one morning and find out there’s a $10 monthly fee to access Steam’s “services” including every game you ever purchased.
When did this ever happen on any game console, or service ever? Isn’t this some kind of “fear mongering”? Also wouldn’t this be illegal? Because we purchased the game and Valve would effectively take all access away for all games. I don’t think your argument what could happen is warranted.
I don’t think this has happened yet with video games, however it is in no way illegal for Valve to do this. There’s been plenty of examples of other media being ripped away from consumers, like “purchased” movies and music.
On Steam, you are purchasing a license to play a game, not the game itself. At any point and for any reason, Valve can legally revoke this license or restrict access to it.
Other cases that have happened relate to failure to upkeep services needed to access content. Companies stop supporting devices, close down servers, etc. Many consumer rights orgs fail to protect in those cases, but they could easily defeat any measure to introduce a conscious, intentional, mandatory monthly fee.
When did this ever happen on any game console, or service ever? Isn’t this some kind of “fear mongering”? Also wouldn’t this be illegal? Because we purchased the game and Valve would effectively take all access away for all games. I don’t think your argument what could happen is warranted.
Sony charges a monthly fee to play online…
That’s not the statement we are discussing as what he said.
I don’t think this has happened yet with video games, however it is in no way illegal for Valve to do this. There’s been plenty of examples of other media being ripped away from consumers, like “purchased” movies and music.
On Steam, you are purchasing a license to play a game, not the game itself. At any point and for any reason, Valve can legally revoke this license or restrict access to it.
Other cases that have happened relate to failure to upkeep services needed to access content. Companies stop supporting devices, close down servers, etc. Many consumer rights orgs fail to protect in those cases, but they could easily defeat any measure to introduce a conscious, intentional, mandatory monthly fee.