My son disagrees with my decision to leave after that price hike. But, I set aside the annual amount in an “envelope” for him to buy games outright on steam etc vs renting them on Gamepass
YES. This will actually show him the value of saving for owning something vs a subscription that is never guaranteed to not increase in price (in fact its almost guaranteed it will go up in price).
Except you’re not really owning anything on Steam. Their policy might change, the CEO might go… Granted it probably won’t happen anytime soon but you’re not really owning anything on Steam too.
There are people who buy hundreds of games on Steam who don’t really play 90+% of their library, and people qho subscribe to Game Pass who “rent” and are able to play the latest games. Neither of them are wrong.
The one upside with steam is that you can access the files. If the company was going down or changing policy you can take the latest installers/game files and back them up.
There are a few games I’ve bought on steam and installed on my retro console because of this setup.
I can still access the files and easily play the games offline in that scenario though AND not have to pay for playing over my own internet connection.
I always check GOG first for this reason but many games are not on there so I have to use steam but difference is on PS or Xbox once they stop supporting something or ban me I’m SOL unless I wait for a jailbreak which on the newest ones could be 10+ years away
On steam I just simply crack the steam DRM in 2 easy steps and boom. You own it.
But you are correct that on steam you only get a license.
Maybe consider introducing him to GoG as well, I love Steam and buy most of my games through them, but you are just buying a license which they can revoke or delist games. At least with GoG you own the game. Granted this depends what your son likes playing…
My son disagrees with my decision to leave after that price hike. But, I set aside the annual amount in an “envelope” for him to buy games outright on steam etc vs renting them on Gamepass
YES. This will actually show him the value of saving for owning something vs a subscription that is never guaranteed to not increase in price (in fact its almost guaranteed it will go up in price).
This is a really good move.
Except you’re not really owning anything on Steam. Their policy might change, the CEO might go… Granted it probably won’t happen anytime soon but you’re not really owning anything on Steam too.
There are people who buy hundreds of games on Steam who don’t really play 90+% of their library, and people qho subscribe to Game Pass who “rent” and are able to play the latest games. Neither of them are wrong.
The one upside with steam is that you can access the files. If the company was going down or changing policy you can take the latest installers/game files and back them up.
There are a few games I’ve bought on steam and installed on my retro console because of this setup.
I can still access the files and easily play the games offline in that scenario though AND not have to pay for playing over my own internet connection.
I always check GOG first for this reason but many games are not on there so I have to use steam but difference is on PS or Xbox once they stop supporting something or ban me I’m SOL unless I wait for a jailbreak which on the newest ones could be 10+ years away
On steam I just simply crack the steam DRM in 2 easy steps and boom. You own it.
But you are correct that on steam you only get a license.
Maybe consider introducing him to GoG as well, I love Steam and buy most of my games through them, but you are just buying a license which they can revoke or delist games. At least with GoG you own the game. Granted this depends what your son likes playing…