All Your Digital Game Libraries Die With You With No Way For Transfer

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Abdullah Waseem

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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Modern-day gaming relies a lot on digital downloads. Recent titles like Alan Wake 2 and Hellblade 2 completely skipped a physical release, pushing gaming further into a digital age.

Since users spend so much on their digital purchases, it’s only natural that many are curious about what happens to this content once they pass on. Unfortunately, the answer is far from pleasant.

Why it matters: Digital game libraries aren’t transferable to another person. So, unless you know the credentials to someone’s account, their entire collection is lost.

This topic was previously raised when a user contacted Steam asking if he could transfer ownership to someone else when he dies. Steam support replied that they couldn’t merge or transfer the library to another person.

However, the topic has once again been raised on a different platform. This time, GOG was asked a similar question, and their answer was quite similar but also presented a solution. They can make it happen if you obtain a court order of the entitlement.

In general, your GOG account and GOG content is not transferable.

-GOG

Elsewhere, Insider Gaming reports that Xbox and PlayStation have a policy similar to Steam’s. Both gaming giants seem fine with leaving massive libraries in limbo after their original owners pass away.

Similarly, Epic Games states that accounts won’t be transferred after death. 

In this instance, the best option seems to be sharing credentials with a friend or loved one. However, this is far from the optimal solution.

In the event that an account requires a password reset, said user would need access to the credentials of the email associated with the Steam, PlayStation, or Xbox account. When looking at the situation from this perspective, it becomes clear why gamers want a more practical solution.

Ultimately, these libraries can often cost thousands of dollars, making it a real shame that platforms have not come up with a proper solution. Perhaps the recent outrage on the matter will prompt a discussion among higher-ups at Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and more.

Abdullah Waseem

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

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