3 ms·

Will this kill Steam? I suspect that's their main adversary as in mobile space they are non-existing, yet they can't dominate gaming space on PC.

by bitL 8y ago

chipperyman573 8y ago
Maybe, but from a user perspective steam is incredible. They were the first major game distributor to introduce a 2 week no-questions-asked refund period, in-home streaming works amazingly (even shooting games work at an acceptable level), their DRM isn't egregious (for example, charging back only revokes the licences that were charged back on, it doesn't close your entire account like on Xbox), and the updates Valve releases for the client are consistently good. The only problem I can remember them having is their entire lack of support, and apparently they have great support now. Unless people stop offering games on Steam, I don't plan to buy them anywhere else.
- bitL 8y ago
  It's not about buyers, but publishers. If a publisher gets 95% of revenue by being exclusively marketed by MS, versus 70% on Steam, they might team up with MS instead. Surely if MS dominates the space after some time, they increase fee, but nobody thinks more than a quarter-two ahead in gaming industry.
  - chipperyman573 8y ago
    I think in most cases you're correct, but store exclusives are somewhat common right now, and users tend to hate it (google "metro exodus controversy" and you'll see what I mean - and that wasn't even exclusive to one store, you just got a discount for buying it from Epic). That said, I don't have access to any data about sales - it's possible that just as many people buy it regardless of what store it's sold on. But I would suspect that is unlikely given how easy it is to pirate something and gamers' tendencies to believe they're owed a game.
muststopmyths 8y ago
Games are still 30%, so no. Apparently Microsoft believes that there is demand for a Windows Store and its apps, but games on the Windows Store are so successful that they don't need the cut. I would not have thought that possible, but I don't have access to Microsoft's business metrics.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago
  I thought the same thing, but there's a rumor suggesting Microsoft may make Xbox One games available on Windows via the Windows Store. It seems a bit far fetched to me, but not impossible. If true, they might be right about not needing to cut it and still be able to threaten Steam.

Will this kill Steam? I suspect that's their main adversary as in mobile space they are non-existing, yet they can't dominate gaming space on PC.

by bitL 8y ago

Will this kill Steam? I suspect that's their main adversary as in mobile space they are non-existing, yet they can't dominate gaming space on PC.

chipperyman573 8y ago

Maybe, but from a user perspective steam is incredible. They were the first major game distributor to introduce a 2 week no-questions-asked refund period, in-home streaming works amazingly (even shooting games work at an acceptable level), their DRM isn't egregious (for example, charging back only revokes the licences that were charged back on, it doesn't close your entire account like on Xbox), and the updates Valve releases for the client are consistently good. The only problem I can remember them having is their entire lack of support, and apparently they have great support now. Unless people stop offering games on Steam, I don't plan to buy them anywhere else.

bitL 8y ago
It's not about buyers, but publishers. If a publisher gets 95% of revenue by being exclusively marketed by MS, versus 70% on Steam, they might team up with MS instead. Surely if MS dominates the space after some time, they increase fee, but nobody thinks more than a quarter-two ahead in gaming industry.
- chipperyman573 8y ago
  I think in most cases you're correct, but store exclusives are somewhat common right now, and users tend to hate it (google "metro exodus controversy" and you'll see what I mean - and that wasn't even exclusive to one store, you just got a discount for buying it from Epic). That said, I don't have access to any data about sales - it's possible that just as many people buy it regardless of what store it's sold on. But I would suspect that is unlikely given how easy it is to pirate something and gamers' tendencies to believe they're owed a game.

muststopmyths 8y ago

Games are still 30%, so no. Apparently Microsoft believes that there is demand for a Windows Store and its apps, but games on the Windows Store are so successful that they don't need the cut. I would not have thought that possible, but I don't have access to Microsoft's business metrics.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago
I thought the same thing, but there's a rumor suggesting Microsoft may make Xbox One games available on Windows via the Windows Store. It seems a bit far fetched to me, but not impossible. If true, they might be right about not needing to cut it and still be able to threaten Steam.