What happens if steam/Valve goes out of business?

Like the thread name says really. What would happen? At the moment I wouldn't stand to lose alot (£25 max I've spent on 10 games in total thx to steam sale) But what would happen? Would Valve release a patch to allow games to be played offline? if they didnt have time could that be done by normal gamers?

 

it's already been done to some extent, they just can't be used on the steam network

 

Valve stated sometime in the past that in the case of Steam having to be shutdown there was a contingency plan in place to allow everyone to play their purchased games offline.

Thing is I've never heard since how that plan would be implemented, what it would entail or how it would work if 3/4 of Valve were to die in a plane crash with the sole laptop holding the software for such a plan onboard as well. I have never fully trusted Steam and never will. Same goes for every digital download method as you never really own anything, just a license that can be revoked at the whim of a server.

There is also this:

Basically: we don't have to do anything if we don't want to. Enjoy!

 

I think this will be a more appropriate question concerning platform services that have a limited lifespan such as XBL and PSN. It will be interesting to see how they handle this a few years after they launch their next systems.

I foresee either the courts or various legislatures ending up having to settle this after some company drops service and everyone loses access to the DLC they have spent good money on. There will be just too many pissed off people for them to ignore it.

 

I like to think valve aren't as douchy as say EA. EA would cut and run and not care at all.

 

I think there's a good chance XBLA and most likely PSN stuff will carry over to the new systems. The backlash over loosing that content would be astronomical.

 

What makes you think Valve is going to go out of business?

 

You mean aside from all the pigs that started flying ?

 

Even if they don't hackers will figure out a way to unlock all the games anyways

 

Programs like Steambuster, and resloader will be used anyway. With the way of the hacker scenes go it will be made possible for Steam games to be used offline.

Valve are making games with old looking graphics and engines, their gameplay is good.. but they have been slowing down a bit.

 

Nothing, just a thought.

 

If Valve went out of business, I'm sure a lot of other companies would love to buy Steam.

 

Well if they did go out of business i would go to there 0ffices and Raid there Bins and take ther severs Before Kevin did lol :gravedigging:

 

It is true that with any downloadable platform, you run the risk of the content not being available one day. Even huge companies sometimes collapse. The only way to really be sure that your data will survive is to own it on a physical medium. Of course, physical media won't last forever either, but at least they aren't subject to the whims of a corporation/the market.