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

Expert Verified By

PlayStation, Steam, Xbox, Epic Games All Say Transfers Not Allowed!

Story Highlights
  • Users are worried about what will happen to their digital libraries when they pass away. 
  • Most major platforms, including Xbox, PlayStation, and more, don’t allow the transfer of digital accounts.
  • The best option seems to be sharing passwords with those you trust.

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.

Streaming Video Games
Recent events have raised concerns about digital game collections.

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. 

Digital only AAA Games
Many AAA games are shifting towards digital-only release

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.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

PlayStation Reports Strong Growth While Steam and Xbox Face Industry Slowdown

A new report by Newzoo shows that PlayStation has been dominating the gaming industry in various departments as consoles lead market growth.

Microsoft Wants To Develop New IPs Despite Its Already Massive Library, Says Xbox Boss

Xbox boss, Phil Spencer, recently revealed in an interview that Xbox is committed to develop more news IPs.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Could Be the Best Showcase of PSSR on PS5 Pro Yet

PSSR is finally supported for Assassin's Creed Shadows on the PS5 Pro, and the difference in the settings enabled is substantial.

Video Games Don’t Need Hollywood Adaptations To Be Successful, Says Xbox Head

In a new interview, Phil Spencer said that not every franchise should be adapted into a movie and that video games are successful by its own.

Days Gone Remastered: Bend Studio Promises A Next-Level Experience on PS5

Bend Studio has recently talked about Days Gone Remastered, stating that the title will offer fans a next-level experience.