[augusto-moura]

Steam's policy is that an already published game can only be delisted, allowing old owners to still play the game. I still own the original versions of Skyrim (before Anniversary edition, definitive edition, and all other *ditions), and I can still download it and play it, even though that version is not available for purchase in the store anymore.

Xbox and PSN don't have such luxuries AFAIK, after a game is removed from the store you cannot keep downloading and playing them.

PC is the last bastion for gaming freedom, a place to patch your game to use community servers. And for better or worse, piracy and emulation is always an option for the games that have any restrictions

[chillfox]

Nintendo still sells games fully on the card that can be played offline.

(yes, they are allowing third party publishers to use key-cards, but their first party games are fully on the card)

[wolvoleo]

Yes but they can force new versions with limited functionality. Like when they deleted half the music from GTA San Andreas.

On GoG you can choose to install every older version they've distributed (though GTA is not on there obviously)

[augusto-moura]

The GTA case is because js technically an update from Rockstar, not specifically Steam's fault here. There are always to downgrade a game, but true, it is not as easy as GoG.

[wolvoleo]

No it's not steam's fault but they do allow it to happen.

[zf00002]

Steams policy means that Marvel Heroes, a game that was shutdown and its developer closed, can still be downloaded by prior owners and used on the private servers.

Kind of interesting but I also had a game on GOG that got delisted and had to get a refund because it got removed.

[benoau]

> Steam's policy is that an already published game can only be delisted, allowing old owners to still play the game. I still own the original versions of Skyrim (before Anniversary edition, definitive edition, and all other *ditions), and I can still download it and play it, even though that version is not available for purchase in the store anymore.

No. Their policy is:

> This license ends upon termination of (a) this Agreement or (b) a Subscription that includes the license. The Content and Services are licensed, not sold. Your license confers no title or ownership in the Content and Services. To make use of the Content and Services, you must have a Steam Account and you may be required to be running the Steam client and maintaining a connection to the Internet.

And their disclaimer disavows any rights you have to use the software or for it not to become broken.

And they prohibit transferring your account or licenses in any fashion, which means they are at best only going to become void when you pass.

https://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement*

[augusto-moura]

I'm not talking about licenses or owning the game, I'm talking about if a publisher removes a game for whatever reason, you don't immediately lose access to that game, you can play it forever after. That is their current de facto policy, with probably a few exceptions.

The discussion on wether you truly own a licensed game is a different thing from what I said.

[benoau]

Developers/Steam are expressly allowed to break the game in-place so even that is an imaginary "right".