14 DAY TRIAL // Valve has updated the Steam Subscriber Agreement for 2016 and users will be required to upgrade the Steam app.
When Valve makes any kind of modification to the Steam Subscriber Agreement, it needs to inform the users regarding the changes that have been done. It doesn't happen all that often, so it really stands out when users are asked to restart their Steam in order to upgrade the agreement.
Most of the time it’s nothing out of the ordinary and the same can be said about the current agreement, which doesn’t change anything for the user. It does change something for the company, especially for the European Union, which is a very different entity from the rest of the world, with their buyer protection and rules.
Valve is making sure that they are covered
It’s probably just a legal matter, but it looks like all the business regarding the Steam Link and Steam Controller is now going through their Luxembourg company, and not through the one in the United States.
“The biggest change relates to Valve now selling hardware in the European Union (EU), specifically the Steam Controller and Link. Going forward, our hardware distribution in Europe will be the primary responsibility of our Luxembourg subsidiary, known as Valve SARL. Meanwhile digital content and services in Europe move back under our US company, Valve Corp., just as they were before the Luxembourg office opened in July 2012,” reads the update from Valve.
Right about now you’re probably wondering how thing affects you, the user. Well, it doesn't. If you’re in Europe, then you now know that you’re covered by the European laws protecting buyers and you don’t have to rely on Valve’s promises.
Otherwise, things are status quo for Steam, and nothing has really changed. Stay calm and keep on playing games.