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Xbox, PlayStation, Switch - they all take a similar cut for access to their platforms, and yet the video game publishers are worth billions. Why should these po

by jmpman 5y ago

Xbox, PlayStation, Switch - they all take a similar cut for access to their platforms, and yet the video game publishers are worth billions. Why should these policies apply towards Apple and not other video game platforms? I can browse the web on my Xbox, watch Netflix, buy movies. I can even use a keyboard and mouse. Shrink the Xbox down to phone size, add a modem, and… how’s it different than an iPhone? Are we now going to legislate that razor blades must be sold at the cost of production?

dontlaugh 5y ago
You’re not wrong, but I think that’s an argument for regulating the maximum usury rates for all such platforms.
anonymousab 5y ago
> Why should these policies apply towards Apple and not other video game platforms Agreed. Those platforms should be forced to open up as well.
zibzab 5y ago
You are correct that this too must be addressed, but there are some issues you are ignoring here: 1. Consoles have traditionally been sold at a loss with the assumption that game sales will make up for our. 2. Console makers do not try to control prices outside their ecosystem (e.g. on other platforms). 3. The number of developers is significantly lower, increasing the development support cost (e.g. toolchain) per released game.
cercatrova 5y ago
You can buy games and software outside of their stores, such as at GameStop, eBay etc. You cannot do this on iOS.
- jmpman 5y ago
  Those games at GameStop or other physical media have already paid their ~30%.
  - cercatrova 5y ago
    But I can always buy them used, or sellers can sell at stores that don't take such a large cut, if in the case of PC games for example. That console games have that 30% cut is not an argument to have them, it's in fact a counterargument that Xbox and Playstation should not necessarily take cuts like 30% when they aren't actually developing the games.

by jmpman 5y ago

dontlaugh 5y ago

You’re not wrong, but I think that’s an argument for regulating the maximum usury rates for all such platforms.

anonymousab 5y ago

> Why should these policies apply towards Apple and not other video game platforms Agreed. Those platforms should be forced to open up as well.

zibzab 5y ago

You are correct that this too must be addressed, but there are some issues you are ignoring here: 1. Consoles have traditionally been sold at a loss with the assumption that game sales will make up for our. 2. Console makers do not try to control prices outside their ecosystem (e.g. on other platforms). 3. The number of developers is significantly lower, increasing the development support cost (e.g. toolchain) per released game.

cercatrova 5y ago

You can buy games and software outside of their stores, such as at GameStop, eBay etc. You cannot do this on iOS.

jmpman 5y ago
Those games at GameStop or other physical media have already paid their ~30%.
- cercatrova 5y ago
  But I can always buy them used, or sellers can sell at stores that don't take such a large cut, if in the case of PC games for example. That console games have that 30% cut is not an argument to have them, it's in fact a counterargument that Xbox and Playstation should not necessarily take cuts like 30% when they aren't actually developing the games.