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Some advantages that Steam will still have: 1. Steam provides a system for user accounts and profiles 2. Steam handles payment securely for both buyers and se

Some advantages that Steam will still have: 1. Steam provides a system for user accounts and profiles 2. Steam handles payment securely for both buyers and sellers 3. Steam handles social networks/friend list/multiplayer 4. Steam allows you to have all your games in one place 5. Steam is a platform for reviews 6. Steam has its own internal economy/marketplace

astlouis44 5y ago
What’s your point? All of that can be done on the web, besides it isn’t really targeting the Steam audience at the end of the day. Think the mobile audience, but on the web. You can do a Sims or PUBG in HTML5 today, and all that’s required is a hyperlink to share it with others. Same strategy that made Wordle go viral and get acquired today for over $1M.
- CharlesW 5y ago
  > What’s your point? He's addressing the problem with your hypothesis that "native games on the web will disrupt Steam" by pointing out that you're comparing apples (a technology platform) and oranges (a distribution channel). Steam doesn't exist because games don't use WASM.
  - monk_e_boy 5y ago
    There's all that stuff on other platforms. Reddit subreddit indie games would be neat if I could just open the post and play the game. I can't imagine I'd use Steam much after that. (And I guess facebook would do the same.) As for payments, I already pay mostly through Google pay or through paypal. Steam isn't adding a huge amount of value.
    - dandellion 5y ago
      What other platforms offer all that stuff? Because I've been looking and nothing comes even close.
- echelon 5y ago
  > What’s your point? Why you expect your Unreal-to-WASM product to succeed when Epic Games can simply build your entire product as a feature of the engine? You are building on their platform and not an open web stack, after all. Despite having an open web, most people have elected to use platforms. At some point, people will defer revenue for simplicity.
  - fxtentacle 5y ago
    I think OP is working on the Epic team. They already have workable emscripten support in UE4
    - echelon 5y ago
      I don't think so. The Discord in his HN profile points directly at his startup: https://www.theimmersiveweb.com/ https://www.theimmersiveweb.com/ This appears to be a 3rd party attempt to bring UE4/5 to the web. I'd love to hear OP's take on how they think they can outpace or complement Epic on their own internal implementation. At face value I don't see how this isn't a f.lux vs. Night Shift type situation, where the official feature destroyed the market for third parties.
    - FractalHQ 5y ago
      They officially dropped support for their web export. Even if you use the older version of the engine that did support it, mileage varies heavily.
dandellion 5y ago
7. Handles refunds without hassle 8. Has a platform for modding (Workshop) 9. Has sales every few months 10. Has festivals that give new games exposure to a big audience The list goes on... It's always better to have more competition, but anyone trying to disrupt Steam has several big challenges ahead, not just running games on the browser. I imagine Steam could start offering games in WASM as well.

astlouis44 5y ago

What’s your point? All of that can be done on the web, besides it isn’t really targeting the Steam audience at the end of the day. Think the mobile audience, but on the web. You can do a Sims or PUBG in HTML5 today, and all that’s required is a hyperlink to share it with others. Same strategy that made Wordle go viral and get acquired today for over $1M.

CharlesW 5y ago
> What’s your point? He's addressing the problem with your hypothesis that "native games on the web will disrupt Steam" by pointing out that you're comparing apples (a technology platform) and oranges (a distribution channel). Steam doesn't exist because games don't use WASM.
- monk_e_boy 5y ago
  There's all that stuff on other platforms. Reddit subreddit indie games would be neat if I could just open the post and play the game. I can't imagine I'd use Steam much after that. (And I guess facebook would do the same.) As for payments, I already pay mostly through Google pay or through paypal. Steam isn't adding a huge amount of value.
  - dandellion 5y ago
    What other platforms offer all that stuff? Because I've been looking and nothing comes even close.
echelon 5y ago
> What’s your point? Why you expect your Unreal-to-WASM product to succeed when Epic Games can simply build your entire product as a feature of the engine? You are building on their platform and not an open web stack, after all. Despite having an open web, most people have elected to use platforms. At some point, people will defer revenue for simplicity.
- fxtentacle 5y ago
  I think OP is working on the Epic team. They already have workable emscripten support in UE4
  - echelon 5y ago
    I don't think so. The Discord in his HN profile points directly at his startup: https://www.theimmersiveweb.com/ https://www.theimmersiveweb.com/ This appears to be a 3rd party attempt to bring UE4/5 to the web. I'd love to hear OP's take on how they think they can outpace or complement Epic on their own internal implementation. At face value I don't see how this isn't a f.lux vs. Night Shift type situation, where the official feature destroyed the market for third parties.
  - FractalHQ 5y ago
    They officially dropped support for their web export. Even if you use the older version of the engine that did support it, mileage varies heavily.

dandellion 5y ago

7. Handles refunds without hassle 8. Has a platform for modding (Workshop) 9. Has sales every few months 10. Has festivals that give new games exposure to a big audience The list goes on... It's always better to have more competition, but anyone trying to disrupt Steam has several big challenges ahead, not just running games on the browser. I imagine Steam could start offering games in WASM as well.