Keep Claimed Free Games Forever? Platform Rules
Yes, you can usually keep a claimed free game forever, but the rules vary by platform and are tied to your account staying in good standing. This article explains the specific policies for Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, PlayStation Plus, and Xbox Games with Gold, so you know exactly what happens to your library if you stop subscribing or your account is banned.
How Free Game Claims Work
When a platform offers a game for free, you are not buying it—you are claiming a permanent license that is added to your account. The key difference from a demo or a trial is that the license does not expire after a set number of hours or days. Once claimed, the game stays in your library indefinitely, and you can download and play it whenever you want, as long as the platform exists and your account remains active.
However, “permanent” is not the same as “unconditional.” Every storefront’s Terms of Service include clauses that allow them to revoke access in specific situations, such as fraud, chargebacks, or account termination. In practice, these revocations are rare and usually tied to a violation of the rules, not to the free promotion itself.
Steam’s Free Game Policy
Steam, operated by Valve, has a straightforward approach. When a game is temporarily free—for example, during a weekend promotion or a permanent “free to keep” event—clicking the “Add to Account” button grants you a license that stays on your account forever. There is no subscription requirement, and you do not need to keep Steam installed to retain the license.
The only way you lose access is if Valve closes your account due to a breach of the Steam Subscriber Agreement, such as fraud, chargebacks, or cheating in Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) protected games. Even then, a VAC ban does not remove your purchased or claimed games; it only restricts you from playing on VAC-secured servers. Account closures for non-payment are not applicable because Steam does not require a monthly fee.
Epic Games Store Free Games
The Epic Games Store gives away one or two games every Thursday. The process is identical to Steam: you click “Get” while the promotion is active, and the game is permanently added to your library. Epic’s official FAQ confirms that these games are yours to keep, with no strings attached.
One important detail is that you must claim the game during the promotional window. If you miss the week, you cannot retroactively add it to your library. Also, Epic’s terms allow them to revoke access if your account is closed for violations, but they do not revoke free games for inactivity. An account that has not been logged into for years still retains its claimed games.
GOG’s DRM-Free Promise
GOG (Good Old Games) has a unique advantage: every game sold or given away on the platform is DRM-free. This means the installer files you download have no copy protection, and you can back them up to an external drive or cloud storage. Even if GOG were to shut down or your account were banned, you could still install and play the games from your local backups.
For free games, GOG occasionally offers titles as “free to keep” promotions. Once you claim them, they appear in your library, and you can download the offline installers. There is no subscription, and no ongoing requirement to maintain access. The only catch is that you must claim the game during the promotion period, just like on other platforms.
PlayStation Plus Monthly Games
PlayStation Plus is a subscription service, and its monthly free games are different from the ones described above. If you have an active PS Plus subscription, you can add the monthly games to your library at no extra cost. However, you can only play them while your subscription is active. If your subscription lapses, the games are locked until you resubscribe.
That said, the games are not removed from your library. When you resubscribe, even months or years later, the previously claimed games become playable again. The only exception is if Sony removes a game from the service entirely, which is rare but has happened with licensed titles like racing games that lose car or music licenses. In those cases, the game may be delisted, and even active subscribers might lose access.
Xbox Games with Gold
Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass Core (the service that replaced Games with Gold in September 2023) follow a similar model to PlayStation Plus. While your subscription is active, you can claim the free games offered each month. For Xbox One and Series X|S games, the license is tied to your subscription—if it lapses, you cannot play them. However, Xbox 360 games claimed through the program are truly yours forever, even without an active subscription, because Microsoft made that policy explicit when the program launched.
If you cancel your subscription, the Xbox One games remain in your library but are greyed out until you resubscribe. The Xbox 360 titles remain fully playable. Microsoft has not changed this policy since the program’s inception, and it continues to apply to Game Pass Core.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to keep the launcher installed to keep the games?
No. The license is tied to your account, not to the software on your computer. You can uninstall Steam, Epic, or GOG, and the games will still be in your account. When you reinstall the launcher and log in, the games are available for download again.
What happens if the platform shuts down?
If a storefront closes, the games you claimed are at risk because the license is stored on their servers. GOG is the safest because you can download offline installers. For Steam and Epic, there is no official backup mechanism, though both companies have stated they would provide a way to download games before any shutdown, but that is a hypothetical promise, not a guarantee.
Can I gift a claimed free game to a friend?
No. Free game claims are added directly to your account and cannot be transferred or gifted. This is true for all platforms. The only exception is if you buy a game as a gift, but that is a separate purchase, not a free claim.
Do free games count toward my library value or achievements?
Yes. Free games are treated exactly like purchased games in every way. They add to your library count, you can earn achievements, and you can review them. Some platforms, like Steam, even show the full retail price as a discount when you claim a free game.
If I get banned, do I lose my free games?
Yes, if your account is permanently banned, you lose access to all games, including free ones. This is standard across all platforms. However, temporary bans, such as a VAC ban on Steam, do not remove your library; they only restrict certain online features.
Can I claim a free game on multiple accounts?
Technically yes, but it is against the terms of service on most platforms. Creating multiple accounts to exploit free promotions can result in all accounts being banned. It is safer to only claim games on your primary account.
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