It doesn't matter whether it's digital, it's still stealing. And it's actually worse than stealing some other things. People don't need video games, they're a luxury and nobody is entitled to them.

Difficult question. Legalling speaking it is, and absolutely should be. Morally though I'd say there's a bit of a grey area when it comes to things needed to survive. As I said earlier in the thread I still don't think it's justifiable, but I do think it's understandable. People still shouldn't do it, and there should still be punishment for those that do, but there should also be sympathy and some degree of leniency depending on the circumstances.

Well, I'm not arguing the legality of it: of course it's going to be illegal when the core principles of modern states is to enforce and maintain property rights and the current order. However, a starving person who steals a loaf of bread being punished is horrible. Now, where does that come in with gaming? Many people around the world are too poor to afford games, so piracy is their only outlet. Now, you say that it is not needed, but people need something cope with life. You yourself say that you ignore most politics because it's too depressing, and you obviously use video games as an outlet to enjoy life, so why should others not be able to because they were born into poverty?

Why are you stating that like its some sort of self evident fact or something? It's not terrible, it's understandable they would steal and it's equally understandable that they would be punished.

Doesn't that depend on the punishment? There needs to be some repercussions for their actions, but if part of that process also involves help to get them back on their feet and in a position where they no longer need to steal to survive then how is that horrible?

As for coping with life, people survived thousands of years without video games, so clearly they aren't needed. There's plenty of other things people can do for enjoyment. Besides, I very much doubt that anybody who can afford the equipment (PC, Console, TV etc) for games and the electric to run it can't even afford a single game. When I was a kid Xmas and birthdays would usually be the only time I'd get new games, so I know from first hand experience that people don't need every single game ever to be happy and even if they can only afford 1 game a year or something that's still going to bring them enjoyment (perhaps even moreso than the person that buys everything and hasn't the time to play it all and can't constantly switches from game to game). Plus with the large number of free to play games out there at the moment there's even less reason to pirate anything.

Because justice should be the same for all and not based on people's socio-economic background. Surely as a communist that's something you can agree on, no?

As for the rest, if that's the argument you're making then why not take it further and go full on nihilist with it as well? The world doesn't need people, so if people aren't needed why does it matter if they starve and cease to exist? As people are not needed anyway it won't matter if more people aren't made.

Perhaps, but poorer people shouldn't be treated more harshly, it is supposed to be equal.

The answers are the same though, are they not? Why do people live? Not because they need to, but because they want to. Why do games exist? Not because they're needed, but because they're wanted.

Nobody should have to wait years to play a game they want to play. By then a lot of their friends and peers would have played it and it wouldnt be as fun. even if you're buying $450 a year in games plus $50 for multiplayer, etc, you're spending $2.5-3k over a consoles life cycle, money that can be better spent elsewhere. For some people $500 a year makes a big difference. 

My argument that there's no justification for stealing games as people don't need them and can easily live without them doesn't make sense?

Compared to your "if video games aren't needed, why does it matter if people pirate them to the point that the companies cease to exist? As video games are not needed anyway it won't matter if more games aren't made." argument? Well it matters to those that want them. Just as going around killing a few humans as extra human lives aren't needed anyway would matter to those that wanted to live.

So because society continues to function despite crime existing we should just let criminals do as they please rather than try to minimise/eradicate crime?