News Valve changes Steam gift trading rules

So if im reading this right I cant buy a copy of a game for me then for my friend and send it to him? Just what are you thinking valve. Just encourage more people to find sites that offer keys for sale.

 

No. You only cannot trade it, in exchange for items. You can gift it.

 

Makes sense to me. Although IMO, anyone who's buying games from unknown people on steam through trading is asking for trouble.

 

You can gift it to them for free.

 

So essentially this changes nothing then, re-sellers will use Ebay or a third party site, take the money there and then 'gift' the game to appropriate user assuming it's not all a scam.

The ability to sell licenses across accounts 'second hand' would probably kill this stone dead but hey, what do we know?

 

The way I read it is this -

If you buy the game as a gift for a mate, nothing changes - the game still goes to your mate...

If you buy the game and stick it in your inventory or you get the game as part of a promo [such as bundled with another game] - then you have to wait 30 days before you can trade it with someone...

 

Bingo.

 

It fixes the trading scam inside the Steam - the ones where you swap items or games for another game, where the credit card transaction is later disputed by real owner of the card, to which Valve reacts by removing the bought game. And the victim ends up with nothing in exchange for his items.

 

Makes sense but it should be made clear in the opening line that gifting is still allowed immediately.

 

Will this have any effect on online steam key sales?
I've bought a steam key that I believe was gifted to me before.