You don't own any of those games. Valve's PC gaming digital marketplace has started including a notice on the shopping cart screen letting users know that purchasing a game on Steam grants them a license for it,

Have you noticed a new Steam message explaining your recent game purchases? It comes courtesy of a new California law.The Latest Tech News, Delivered to Your Inbox

The harsh truth is timed to a new California law against false advertising.

Gamers looking to add new titles to their Steam library are being met with a new message clarifying that purchasing a digital game grants them a digital license to the game, but ownership of the game itself. Valve implemented the warning ahead of a recently passed California law, which is set to go into effect in 2025.

Steam is now showing a new disclosure on its store checkout screen that clarifies you don’t actually own a game.

Have you ever bought an app or game from a digital storefront, only for it to suddenly disappear and become inaccessible without warning? It’s both confusing and frustrating, which is why some governments are stepping in and hoping to make things clearer for consumers.

You don't own the games in your Steam library. Going forward, you'll be reminded of this fact every time you buy a game from the Steam digital storefront. The Steam checkout page now features the following notice: "a purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam.

Ahead of new California legislation requiring storefronts to make it clear customers are only buying a license for digital content rather than outright owning it, Steam has implemented a message at the point of purchase doing just that.

The new message on Steam’s shopping cart now reminds the customers that they do not own the game they are paying for. Rather they are only obtaining the license to play the game. Shortly, a new law will be passed to redefine the ownership perception regarding the games in digital libraries.