Overview

Steam leads the gaming platform category with a score of 55/100 - the only platform to break into the upper half of Grade C. Their industry-setting refund policy (2 hours of play within 14 days) and robust offline mode set them apart from competitors. However, they still operate on a license model, meaning you don't truly "own" your games.

Valve's approach is notably more consumer-friendly than console platforms, largely due to EU regulatory pressure and competition. The Steam Deck hardware has also driven improvements in offline and portable gaming rights.

Key Gotchas

  • ⚠️ License, Not Ownership

    When you "buy" a game on Steam, you're purchasing a license to access it through Steam's service. Valve can revoke access, and if Steam ever shuts down, your library could theoretically vanish (though Valve has made informal promises to unlock games in that scenario).

    Section 2: Licenses

  • ⚠️ VAC Bans Are Permanent and Non-Appealable

    Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) bans are permanent with no appeal process. While they only affect multiplayer in VAC-secured games, false positives do occur and there's no recourse. The ban is tied to your account permanently.

    Section 4: Rules of Use / VAC Policy

  • ⚠️ Region Locks and Price Discrimination

    Games purchased in certain regions may have activation or play restrictions. Moving countries can complicate your library access, and attempting to circumvent regional pricing violates the ToS.

    Section 3.C: License Limitations

  • 🔴 Mandatory Arbitration

    Like all gaming platforms, Steam requires disputes to go through arbitration rather than courts. Class action lawsuits are prohibited, limiting collective consumer action.

    Section 11: Dispute Resolution

Positive Aspects

  • ✅ Industry-Leading Refund Policy

    Refunds are easy to obtain within 2 hours of playtime and 14 days of purchase - no questions asked. This far exceeds what consoles offer and set the standard for digital game purchases.

  • ✅ Robust Offline Mode

    Steam's offline mode actually works. You can play your single-player games without internet connection for extended periods, unlike many competitors that require periodic online check-ins.

  • ✅ Family Sharing

    Share your game library with up to 5 accounts on 10 devices. While not perfect (only one person can access the library at a time), it's more generous than most alternatives.

  • ✅ Workshop and Community Features

    Steam Workshop enables free mods and user-created content with clear terms. Community market allows selling in-game items with transparent fee structure.

Score Breakdown

Category Scores

Fund & Account Control (25%) 15/25
Dispute Resolution (20%) 8/20
Liability & Indemnification (20%) 11/20
Transparency & Notice (15%) 10/15
Data & Privacy Rights (10%) 6/10
Exit Rights (10%) 5/10
Total Score 55/100

The Bottom Line

Steam is the best option for PC gaming from a ToS perspective. Their refund policy and offline capabilities are genuine consumer benefits that competitors have been slow to match. If you're going to have a digital game library, Steam is the least problematic choice.

That said, you still don't "own" your games in any traditional sense. For true ownership, consider DRM-free alternatives like GOG for games that are available there. But for most PC gamers, Steam strikes a reasonable balance between convenience and consumer rights.