10 years ago, it was absurd to think that you wouldn’t have your videogames as long as you had your console. However, nowadays digital gaming has changed everything. If the videogame servers where your digital games close, you won’t have any physical way to keep playing your games.
Steam, PlayStation. Nintendo and several other platforms make gaming acquisition extremely easy, but you don’t have the physical copy of the game. You have access to the files through the servers, but in case they close, there are certain risks for the user. Imagine that Steam closes and you can’t access videogames that you have already paid for. Is it a real possibility?
Digital videogames and the future of Internet servers
The possibility of losing your videogames if the servers of a platform like Steam closes, are real. The system is made for you to have access to the games as long as the platform is online. But your library is not yours in fact, but the access to the titles. Whenever a platform closes, you lose the possibility of accessing your games because they are not stored anywhere anymore.
Certain titles can be fully downloaded to your system, but there are videogames that require regular updates or online features that won’t be available anymore in case of server closure. In the past, game developers launched complete titles. Those didn’t need any kind of registration, log in or updates. However, that’s not true for Steam and other digital gaming platforms.
The curious thing is that you can’t do much to ensure your videogame after servers close. Your gaming library in fact is not yours at all for the company. You have access to the titles but that will end whenever the company closes. It’s logical in a sense, because where will the games be stored if the company disappears?
Controversy is on about digital videogames and server expiration
Recently, users are asking what will happen with the content they have already paid for. Certain players still prefer physical games, but the new PlayStation 6 for example, will only arrive with digital game support. If physical games cease to exist, the user won’t be able to replay games after server closure.
It’s also true that platforms like Steam won’t be closing in the near or medium term, but we thought similarly about 2000 software solutions life Messenger from Microsoft. 20 years from now, there’s a possibility that servers for your games won’t be there anymore.