If you want to get a PC game, chances are that you buy it on Steam. It makes sense, since Steam is easy to use, has regular sales, and has great supporting features like guides and achievements.

However, the question arises: what happens when Valve removes a Steam game from sale? If you've bought the game, do you lose access to it? We're going to answer that and more.

Why Are Games Removed From Steam?

It's not common for games to be pulled from Steam entirely, but it happens. There are many reasons for this. Let's explore some of them.

Legal reasons are often the cause. This could be music licenses expiring, a successful DMCA notice, or the publisher only listed a game to farm and sell Steam trading cards. In some instances, Valve and the game's publisher can resolve these legal issues and the game will return to Steam.

Technical issues, unfinished games, and poor reviews can be other factors. The developer or publisher often decides this; the games often return at a later date, once they have ironed the problems out. This famously happened with Batman: Arkham Knight, which had a disastrous PC launch plagued by bugs, and only returned in a better state four months later.

Video game remasters and remakes are increasingly common. Occasionally, when the new version releases, the developer takes the original off Steam to help guide consumers. While this is questionable from a video game preservation perspective, good developers will include the original game alongside the remake; Skunkape Games' Sam & Max Save the World (originally created by Telltale Games) did this, for example.

Finally, exclusivity deals can cause games to be taken off Steam. Epic Games is doing its best to compete with Steam, and has purchased the exclusive right for some games. For example, Rocket League is now only available on the Epic Games Store, despite being available through Steam for years.

What Happens If a Game You Bought Is Removed From Steam?

You are probably wondering what happens if you buy a game on Steam and it later gets pulled from the store. Will you still be able to play it?

In the majority of instances, the answer is yes. The game will remain in your library and you will be able to download, install, and launch it as normal.

The game's store page won't appear in search, but you'll still be able to access it directly and engage in Steam Community features (like guides, forums, and screenshots) from your library.

There are exceptions to this. If a game leaves Steam store because it's literally unplayable—perhaps a multiplayer game where all the servers have gone offline, or a game protected by digital rights management (DRM) software that no longer works—then it could disappear from your library.

In these circumstances, you might be eligible for a refund. While the normal Steam refund policy applies, Valve may extend beyond this if, for instance, a publisher or developer cancels a new game, or they didn't deliver on promised content.

For free to play games, you should receive at least 90 days notice before it shuts down. In-game purchasing should also become unavailable at the same time. If you haven't had the opportunity to get the full value out of any in-game purchase, Valve may refund you for it.

Can You Still Buy Games Removed From Steam?

When a game disappears from Steam, the store page is still accessible through search engines, and if you know the direct URL. However, you won't be able to buy it by navigating through Steam.

That said, if you buy a Steam code through another website (like Humble Bundle), you will be able to activate that game through Steam. Bear in mind that buying a Steam key outside of key doesn't afford you the same refund protection as buying directly would.

Also, just because the game leaves Steam, it doesn't mean you won't be able to buy it elsewhere. Search online or go to the game's official website to see if other purchasing options are available.

Don't Be Put Off Buying From Steam

Some people might say that you don't own the games you buy through Steam. In a sense, that's true. Steam could unexpectedly shut down tomorrow and take all your games with it.

Of course, that's unlikely, and most games will never be pulled from the Steam store; those that are taken down are the exception. So, don't fear: Steam is one of the safest and best game marketplaces on the web.