If Valve died, what would happen to all my games on Steam?

Steed · 10-11-2009, 07:37 PM

Valve and Steam are both throughly awesome, and as such I've a fair few games purchased or registered on Steam.

What would happen if Valve suddenly died? If their content servers went down, would I just lose ALL my steam games?

Have Valve thought about it? Before going down, would they let you download a final non-steam requiring version of the game?

Scary thoughts...

Cedge · 10-11-2009, 07:39 PM

This has been discussed many times before.

There is no way to predict a situation in which Steam would shut down, or what would happen in such an event.

Gabe has expressed hope that they would be able to release de-authentication patches for games, but this isn't a guarantee.

Bottom line, nobody knows.

White_Wolf · 10-11-2009, 07:50 PM

It is that uncertainty that makes me use Steam only for games that require it like Valve games, Audiosurf, Defense Grid, and FEAR 2.

Valve and Steam are pretty solid so I don't expect either to fail, but as Yoda said of predicting the future, "Difficult to see, always in motion is the future".

Better safe than sorry.

Akudama89 · 10-11-2009, 07:50 PM

Yay, another one of these threads, Death of Steam threads: 1337

P. H. · 10-11-2009, 08:13 PM

These threads will keep popping up because the question has not been answered, and likely never will.

I, for one, have decided that the convenience provided by Steam makes up for the risk of my games disappearing forever into that big cloud in the 'net. In any case, should Steam go under, I will have no choice but to dHHNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGHHH

relaxeder · 10-11-2009, 08:37 PM

Its the question that won't go away.

GoDevs · 10-11-2009, 08:51 PM

Gone for good I would imagine.

10-11-2009, 09:08 PM

I doubt they would pull an Enron on us.

shial · 10-11-2009, 09:16 PM

I just keep a copy of everything and if steam did go under there would be a hacked version of steam out probably within a week.

ZoNe-SiNisTeR · 10-11-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shial

I just keep a copy of everything and if steam did go under there would be a hacked version of steam out probably within a week.

Won't valve deauthorize your games, so you won't have to use illegal softwares?

Cedge · 10-11-2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoNe-SiNisTeR

Won't valve deauthorize your games, so you won't have to use illegal softwares?

Maybe. Maybe not. It's a difficult legal and technical issue.

Again, there is no way to predict a situation in which Steam would be shut down, and no way to predict any of the outcomes.

10-11-2009, 09:54 PM

...10 companies at a minimum would quickly jump in line to buy Steam and you'd be fine.

t19890204 · 10-11-2009, 10:44 PM

Raymond Brothers

steveroger · 10-11-2009, 10:52 PM

According the Steam Subscriber Agreement Valve promises you nothing in the event that Steam is shut down for any reason.

In the unlikely event that Steam is shut down, any number of things could happen:

1. You lose access to everything.
2. A patch is issued and Valve games work offline and the their multiplayer may or may not work.
3. Third party games may get a patch, work offline and their multiplayer may or may not work.
4. A combination of 2 & 3, that includes all, some or none of your games, bringing you back to possibility #1.

I have seen forum posts, articles and comments from articles that claim that Gabe Newell announced that if Steam were to shut down that a patch would be issued to provide you with access to your games. However, I have never found the actual quote itself.

The trouble is that even if Gabe said that the SSA does not reflect this promise of a patch so the offer is unenforceable.

IMHO, I think that in the unlikely event that Steam went do that we would get to access to most of our games. There would be a few titles that we would lose access to likely due to their individual companies legal and financial issues. Heck, that happens now from time to time. Like the one of the past Zombie Shooter shooter sale fiasco that happened due to a beef with their old publisher.

Cedge · 10-11-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveroger

I have seen forum posts, articles and comments from articles that claim that Gabe Newell announced that if Steam were to shut down that a patch would be issued to provide you with access to your games. However, I have never found the actual quote itself.

Indeed, people often say that they heard that Gabe "announced" this, based on faulty second-hand (or third or fourth or fifth-hand) information.

Indeed, Gabe never made an authoritative "announcement" about it. I explained the origin of the whole "Gabe announced they'd release a patch" semi-rumor, including the actual quote from Gabe, in a post a few months ago. Here's a link:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forum...9&postcount=28

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10-11-2009, 07:37 PM	#1
Steed Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Reputation: 0 Posts: 12	If Valve died, what would happen to all my games on Steam? Valve and Steam are both throughly awesome, and as such I've a fair few games purchased or registered on Steam. What would happen if Valve suddenly died? If their content servers went down, would I just lose ALL my steam games? Have Valve thought about it? Before going down, would they let you download a final non-steam requiring version of the game? Scary thoughts...

10-11-2009, 07:39 PM	#2
Cedge Join Date: May 2009 Reputation: 1127 Posts: 3,873	This has been discussed many times before. There is no way to predict a situation in which Steam would shut down, or what would happen in such an event. Gabe has expressed hope that they would be able to release de-authentication patches for games, but this isn't a guarantee. Bottom line, nobody knows.

10-11-2009, 07:50 PM	#3
White_Wolf Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Reputation: 206 Posts: 178	It is that uncertainty that makes me use Steam only for games that require it like Valve games, Audiosurf, Defense Grid, and FEAR 2. Valve and Steam are pretty solid so I don't expect either to fail, but as Yoda said of predicting the future, "Difficult to see, always in motion is the future". Better safe than sorry.

10-11-2009, 07:50 PM	#4
Akudama89 Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Reputation: 121 Posts: 869	Yay, another one of these threads, Death of Steam threads: 1337

10-11-2009, 08:13 PM	#5
P. H. Join Date: May 2008 Reputation: 0 Posts: 19	These threads will keep popping up because the question has not been answered, and likely never will. I, for one, have decided that the convenience provided by Steam makes up for the risk of my games disappearing forever into that big cloud in the 'net. In any case, should Steam go under, I will have no choice but to dHHNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGHHH

10-11-2009, 08:37 PM	#6
relaxeder Join Date: Apr 2009 Reputation: 1630 Posts: 2,784	Its the question that won't go away.

10-11-2009, 08:51 PM	#7
GoDevs Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Reputation: 13 Posts: 479	Gone for good I would imagine.

10-11-2009, 09:08 PM	#8
luminous_flux Guest Posts: n/a	I doubt they would pull an Enron on us.

10-11-2009, 09:16 PM	#9
shial Join Date: Apr 2009 Reputation: 2 Posts: 16	I just keep a copy of everything and if steam did go under there would be a hacked version of steam out probably within a week.

10-11-2009, 09:54 PM	#12
K1Bond007 Guest Posts: n/a	...10 companies at a minimum would quickly jump in line to buy Steam and you'd be fine.

10-11-2009, 10:44 PM	#13
t19890204 Join Date: Oct 2008 Reputation: 0 Posts: 45	Raymond Brothers

10-11-2009, 10:52 PM	#14
steveroger Join Date: Feb 2009 Reputation: 281 Posts: 1,747	According the Steam Subscriber Agreement Valve promises you nothing in the event that Steam is shut down for any reason. In the unlikely event that Steam is shut down, any number of things could happen: 1. You lose access to everything. 2. A patch is issued and Valve games work offline and the their multiplayer may or may not work. 3. Third party games may get a patch, work offline and their multiplayer may or may not work. 4. A combination of 2 & 3, that includes all, some or none of your games, bringing you back to possibility #1. I have seen forum posts, articles and comments from articles that claim that Gabe Newell announced that if Steam were to shut down that a patch would be issued to provide you with access to your games. However, I have never found the actual quote itself. The trouble is that even if Gabe said that the SSA does not reflect this promise of a patch so the offer is unenforceable. IMHO, I think that in the unlikely event that Steam went do that we would get to access to most of our games. There would be a few titles that we would lose access to likely due to their individual companies legal and financial issues. Heck, that happens now from time to time. Like the one of the past Zombie Shooter shooter sale fiasco that happened due to a beef with their old publisher.