In February 2025, the Steam Deck will turn three years old. And while plenty of games still run like a dream on the portable PC, it’s clear that over time, more and more big new games are pushing this tiny computer to its breaking point.

This article tells you how players can fix the “Steam must be running to play this game” error on Windows desktops and laptops. Do your games throw up that Steam error message when you try to play them?

Steam appears to have started posting a notice in its shopping cart that purchases on its storefront are only for a license and not a game, according to a notice spotted by Engadget. It looks like an attempt by the company to get ahead of a new California law coming next year that forces companies to admit that buyers don't actually own digital content.

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

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,

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.

Whenever you purchase a game on Steam, you’ll now be met with a warning, stating that you're buying a license and not the game itself.

Steam has apparently started alerting users that they’re obtaining digital licenses to play games, paving way for other marketplaces like PS Store to follow suit. The move comes ahead of an upcoming California law that will require online storefronts to admit that players don’t actually own the content that they pay for.

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.