Its for the developer to decide, some may want to keep it open to allow players that got the game else where to still have a open discution or let users that dont own ask things
If there is an issue on a fourm the admins of that fourms should deal with it, if its locking it up or if its modrating it

No. Locked forums are very consumer and player unfriendly. Mods simply have to deal with culture warriors.

引用自 Crazy Tiger：

No. Locked forums are very consumer and player unfriendly. Mods simply have to deal with culture warriors.

people who do not own said games are not consumers

引用自 Absurd：

people who do not own said games are not consumers

They are potential customers that are even more important than customers who have already paid for the game.

As for your suggestion, Steam already allows developers/publishers to lock forums for owners only if they want to. Option will not be forced and Valve actually recommends against it in it's documentation. Even if developer chooses to lock the forums, one sub forum must always be open for all users in every hub.

引用自 Absurd：

tired of the Blatant attempts at IP destruction by bad faith actors and troll accounts!

That should be up to the developers who run that specific forum, not Steam.

And you alone don't decide what is a troll and/or bad faith actors.

What is it with these people who don't get common sense? You vote Democrat or something?

Nope. For example, I own The Sims 4 on EA. Then can I not post on the Steam forum, just because?

引用自 HeavyGoat：

Nope. For example, I own The Sims 4 on EA. Then can I not post on the Steam forum, just because?

Sims 4 is free on Steam so bit bad example but that's the OP's idea. If you don't own a game on Steam, you should not be able to post in game's hub because OP said so.

Soon you'll be wanting licences to post

That's a terrible idea, even for a basic thing like you wouldn't be able to say "I didn't buy your game because...". It can help developers in the long run.

What if someone owned the game on PlayStation or Xbox?
That's why at least one sub forum is required to be left open to everyone.

引用自 Hikari Light：

What if someone owned the game on PlayStation or Xbox?
That's why at least one sub forum is required to be left open to everyone.

then thats too bad... this is steam.

引用自 mare：

Soon you'll be wanting licences to post

how about linking your game account with your social security card/banking details to keep people honest?

Oh man, really?

You know, those poor fellas over at Redemption Road, making Kingmakers, had another delay and got it quite bad..

https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/app/2109770/discussions/0/598539452433100692/

This sh*t is not on eh.. The level of entitlement is unreal.

引用自 mare：

Soon you'll be wanting licences to post

It’s the same thing legally speaking since they’re selling licenses for the game

引用自 Absurd：

引用自 Crazy Tiger：

No. Locked forums are very consumer and player unfriendly. Mods simply have to deal with culture warriors.

people who do not own said games are not consumers

They're potential players and consumers.

I get it, people prefer echo chambers. But with how fanboys ruin game hubs, locked forums are just a bunch of people stroking each others ego.
Good thing most devs don't keep their forums locked.