The Microsoft Store has started to make it clear that users only receive a license to use digital games, not ownership of the games themselves. This has actually been true for years and is written in the license agreements (which few people read). However, recent debates—sparked by the The Crew case—have made it necessary to clarify what buyers really get when they spend money on digital games.
The Illusion of Ownership
What an odd thing to say
byu/phlegmtoad inxbox
With Silent Hill F, the Xbox Store USA has started displaying a clear message: “Buying or purchasing any digital products is a license.” In other words, it is now clearly stated that buying a digital product does not grant ownership, but only the right to use it — a right that can be revoked at any time by the rights holders or by the store itself.
According to users, this change is connected to a California law that took effect in 2024. The law requires digital platforms to clearly state that they provide licensed access rather than selling digital products. It also prohibits using the words “buy” or “purchase” without additional clarification.
Although the law formally applies only in California, Microsoft decided to display this clarification across its entire store. Still, this does not solve a bigger issue: games with DRM can become unavailable at any time if the publisher shuts down servers or removes the title. Of course, this is not something unique to Microsoft — almost all digital games on any platform are subject to similar terms.
