What would happen if Steam shut down?

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dragonseeker418 30 Jun, 2019 @ 8:49am

I know this isn't likely to happen for a LONG time, but it's been bugging me for a while since I started getting rid of my old, obsolete physical copies of games (which I now have on Steam) I heard some sources say that backups will be provided and others that the games and access to them will also be gone.

Can someone please clarify for me? Cos I'm sure lots of us have Steam exclusive games we don't want to see go away and plus physical copies are getting rarer and rarer,

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Brujeira 30 Jun, 2019 @ 8:51am

Google is your friend - this has been asked and answered countless times before. Not being argumentative but the info is out there.

nullable 30 Jun, 2019 @ 8:55am

There was some concern about this early on with Steam. But 15 years later it's not a major concern given Steam's success. As for what Brujeira said I would agree. It's already been a concern that's already been addressed.

FMP 30 Jun, 2019 @ 8:57am

We lose access to our games I'd imagine if another company didn't buy what was left.

Not seen any kind of evidence to the whole valve said..... story and internet is full of stories.

nullable 30 Jun, 2019 @ 9:04am

Originally posted by GDL:
We lose access to our games I'd imagine if another company didn't buy what was left.

Not seen any kind of evidence to the whole valve said..... story and internet is full of stories.

It was definitely an early concern and Gabe Newall was on the record about it. That being said this was nearly 15 years ago and a lot of things have changed. So I don't know that I necessarily believe the original promises are applicable. Mostly because back then Steam was literally the only game in town. But now the market has grown and changed in such a way and given Steam's success and the success of digital distribution I'd be much more worried about Steam being bought and changed than it going out of business. IE some other stores not hosting games you've bought indefinitely for example.

Last edited by nullable; 30 Jun, 2019 @ 9:04am

Valmar 30 Jun, 2019 @ 9:08am

Imagine internet goes down entirely, all the banks, the videogames, the music...
Or even if the local Electricity or global Electricity goes down for a couple months. Or forever. Jesus.

Resume: better don't think in those kinds of things, live happy while you can.

Last edited by Valmar; 30 Jun, 2019 @ 9:08am

8ullfrog 30 Jun, 2019 @ 9:09am

World War Z, people running through the snow with their gamecubes, getting their ankles caught on zombie jaws, spreading the infection. Or ♥♥♥♥, L4D - I miss the internet.

nullable 30 Jun, 2019 @ 9:10am

Originally posted by Valmar:
Imagine internet goes down entirely, all the banks, the videogames, the music...
Or even if the local Electricity or global Electricity goes down for a couple months. Or forever. Jesus.

Resume: better don't think in those kinds of things, live happy while you can.

And everyone who understands and manages those things is killed? The fundamental laws of the universe no longer apply? It's kind of the one flaw in a lot of those doomsday worries.

Last edited by nullable; 30 Jun, 2019 @ 9:10am

999999999 30 Jun, 2019 @ 9:11am

dragonseeker418 30 Jun, 2019 @ 9:55am

Thanks for the links, 999999999 :)

The reason I started this thread was cos there was so many different answers floating around. Lots of the threads are from like 2013 and I wasn't sure if anything had changed between now and then. Like I said, some say the games will still somehow be downloadable, but others that you don't own the game itself, but the license so if Steam goes, so will your rights to the game.

That said, I doubt Valve would simply leave it's customers hanging high and dry with no access to the content they spent their money on.

8ullfrog 30 Jun, 2019 @ 10:01am

Hasn't Microsoft nuked like, three separate music schemes, sending your licenses directly to the toilet?

Like I remember way back before XP, they had windows media player append rights BS to tracks you ripped yourself, then playsforsure got nuked, then Zune folded.

I'd say Steam is doing pretty good in comparison.

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Date Posted: 30 Jun, 2019 @ 8:49am

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