Hot take:

If you buy a digital game and download it, that's it. You have technically bought and own the game, and developer/store are not necessarily obligated to allow you to download the game again.

Counter to hot take:

Because the game is attached to the store's DRM, meaning that you can't use the files as intended without that store and a connection to their server / needing you to be online, then that means you don't own the game, and as a result

Counter counter:

When you bought a physical copy (disc) of a PC game, even back in the day, if it was attached to Steam with those same requirements, then you didn't own those physical copies as well.

Final thoughts:

Physical (file extraction) or digital (right of one time download, further requires future potential payments), if you buy the game and I can run it without the need of an internet connection, in terms of a singleplayer game, only then do you truly own it. In terms of an online game, it's the same but you don't own the servers they're running so its fine if they go under, however, they should not pursue you legally if you mod the files and make it connect to your own or others' servers.

#gaming #gamestr