Why does steam need to decrypt game files?

Answer 1

They encrypt it avoid people being able to crack it early and release it on less-than-trustworthy websites!

When the game is officially out, they decrypt the files and finish the install so you can play!

Answer 2

Steam offers a unique benefit to pre-ordering some major games called "pre-loading".  This lets you download the game files ahead of launch.  Once the game is officially released, these files simply need to be decrypted, which is what you're seeing.

This pre-loading avoids putting excess strain on the servers, since you won't have as many people downloading large amounts of data on day 1.

Answer 3

The encryption on preloaded games is the caveat to the convenience of being able to download the game early. This ensures that the player will have the game completely downloaded and ready to play exactly when the clock hits 0 while preventing the game itself from being played early. The decryption is just a quick process to turn all those files you downloaded into a functioning game.

Answer 4

steam just needs to be connected to the internet so it can communicate with valve's servers.

Answer 5

If you bought or were gifted a legit copy of the game, Steam should decrypt the files itself.

Answer 6

When it was under pre load, it was locked with an encryption to prevent people from playing.

Now that it is out, it needs to remove the encryption to play.

Answer 7

So you can't play before the game is actually out :o