Steam Removed Forced Arbitration from Their Subscriber Agreement • Hacker News Board

Re: Steam Removed Forced Arbitration from Their Subscriber Agreement

#21

Post by telgareith » Fri, Sep 27, 2024, 9:11 PM UTC

robrtsql wrote: post #6

A lot of people on Reddit's /r/SteamDeck report that this notice popped up while they were mid-game on Steam Deck. Often leading to (in-game) death. Last night, I was playing Elden Ring, when suddenly the game screen froze, and then went black. The game's music was still playing in the background. I assumed that it was some sort of crash (notably, the first crash I have EVER experienced while playing that game on Ste…

Same, middle of an Oxygen Not Included session- but on a regular PC.

I also find it interesting that I woke up to find california passing a bill declaring the use of "Buy" buttons for purchasing a content license on this site.

I find the arguments in this thread persuasive, but the timing and nature of valve announcing the change in terms more than a suspicious. I'd have to go check, but I would not be suprised if I received the notice around 5pm california time.

Re: Steam Removed Forced Arbitration from Their Subscriber Agreement

#22

Post by navjack27 » Sat, Sep 28, 2024, 10:44 AM UTC

aaomidi wrote: post #20

nsxwolf wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ahh I thought Valve had suddenly decided to do something consumer fiendly. Lol.

Suddenly? - steam families - removing the monopoly of windows gaming on PCs - removing a ton of game piracy by making a platform people want to use - progressing Linux desktop to be in a usable state ???

Sounds like embrace, extend, extinguish to me. Jk

Re: Steam Removed Forced Arbitration from Their Subscriber Agreement

#23

Post by johnnyanmac » Wed, Oct 02, 2024, 5:29 AM UTC

aaomidi wrote: post #20

nsxwolf wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ahh I thought Valve had suddenly decided to do something consumer fiendly. Lol.

Suddenly? - steam families - removing the monopoly of windows gaming on PCs - removing a ton of game piracy by making a platform people want to use - progressing Linux desktop to be in a usable state ???

>- removing the monopoly of windows gaming on PCs

by becoming a monopoly? A lot of this ball started rolling because Wolfire accused Valve of price fixing. Pretty much the worst thing you can do.

And if you didn't read the ToS update: this is

1) RETROACTIVE application of this arbitration (remember when we got mad at companies trying to apply terms to the past)?

2) option out requires you to delete your Steam account. Holding your potential hundreds or thousands of dollars of games as hostage.

I don't think people realize how absurd this is.

>removing a ton of game piracy

Except when you need another third party account, then suddenly piracy is convinient again.

>progressing Linux desktop to be in a usable state

By relying on a windows environment, sure. I still yearn for native Linux gaming.

Re: Steam Removed Forced Arbitration from Their Subscriber Agreement

#24

Post by johnnyanmac » Wed, Oct 02, 2024, 5:32 AM UTC

remram wrote: post #17

I just got that email, "we have updated the Steam Subscriber Agreement". It seems that the only way to not accept the new agreement is to close your Steam account. I assume they don't provide any way to use the games you bought if you do this, and don't refund you either. How is that legal? Of course I've seen this in a ton of subscription-based services, but since Steam lets you "purchase" games, that really seems p…

> I assume they don't provide any way to use the games you bought if you do this, and don't refund you either. How is that legal?

Not really, no.

>Can I play games after deleting my account?

>During the 30 days before account deletion, games that require a VAC server will not be playable. After your account is deleted, games that require a Steam account will not be playable.

People calling Valve a "good monopoly" and then they turn around and hold your games hostage when lawsuits get too sweaty. This is exactly why GOG is my first choice where possible. And ironically the very kind of thing that Wolfire was worried about in their lawsuit.

Re: Steam Removed Forced Arbitration from Their Subscriber Agreement

#25

Post by johnnyanmac » Wed, Oct 02, 2024, 5:34 AM UTC

solidninja wrote: post #3

minetest2048 wrote: post #2

This is rare, most other services tries to sneak in forced arbitration agreement

They lost a lawsuit as far as I can see: https://infosec.exchange/@SteamDB/113208423939527370 so they pretty much had to change it.

reading the comments there: got to love how anytime Steam comes up in a negative light that it turns into a "debate" on if a platform that controls 90% of its respective market is a monopoly.