3 ms·

I have conflicting feelings about the Epic Games Store. On the one hand, Valve definitely needs to have competitors to avoid the kind of "enshittification" we s

I have conflicting feelings about the Epic Games Store. On the one hand, Valve definitely needs to have competitors to avoid the kind of "enshittification" we see in other tech products. On the other hand, Epic's tactics - especially securing exclusives - have been quite anti-consumer. Epic's Fortnite has also popularized a bunch of monetization tactics that, frankly, suck. I guess what I'm saying is: use GoG whenever possible.

activitypea 3y ago
Valve is a private company, and therefore much less susceptible to enshittification, at least in theory. That's bound to come crashing down when GabeN retires, though.
- hightrix 3y ago
  This is the real worry. Steam and valve are extremely consumer friendly and many of their decisions feel like they take the user into account before the accountants, contrary to many other video game products today. I really worry when GabeN leaves that the company will either go public or be bought out by PE/VC and then the last bastion of goodwill in video games will die and fast painful death.
tracerbulletx 3y ago
There is no way to enter the market in any meaningful way without exclusives. It's not the end of the world to have two launchers.
- AlexandrB 3y ago
  GoG/CD Projekt Red did it somehow. Even their own games are not exclusive to the platform.
  - tracerbulletx 3y ago
    Gog's market-share is not substantial. Considering that non DRM software is very compelling, the Gog example actually just proves my point, you need exclusives to move the needle. It's a fact.
    - falcolas 3y ago
      Apparently they didn't move the needle enough. So perhaps it's a more accurate to say that the exclusives cost Epic much more than they ever returned. In money and trust.
slothtrop 3y ago
Broadly speaking I agree, but as it stands as a privately held company, they seem to be the antidote to enshittification and anti-consumer behavior brought on by publicly traded conglomerates. Speaking of which, GoG Galaxy. Certainly hasn't gotten better.

activitypea 3y ago

Valve is a private company, and therefore much less susceptible to enshittification, at least in theory. That's bound to come crashing down when GabeN retires, though.

hightrix 3y ago
This is the real worry. Steam and valve are extremely consumer friendly and many of their decisions feel like they take the user into account before the accountants, contrary to many other video game products today. I really worry when GabeN leaves that the company will either go public or be bought out by PE/VC and then the last bastion of goodwill in video games will die and fast painful death.

tracerbulletx 3y ago

There is no way to enter the market in any meaningful way without exclusives. It's not the end of the world to have two launchers.

AlexandrB 3y ago
GoG/CD Projekt Red did it somehow. Even their own games are not exclusive to the platform.
- tracerbulletx 3y ago
  Gog's market-share is not substantial. Considering that non DRM software is very compelling, the Gog example actually just proves my point, you need exclusives to move the needle. It's a fact.
  - falcolas 3y ago
    Apparently they didn't move the needle enough. So perhaps it's a more accurate to say that the exclusives cost Epic much more than they ever returned. In money and trust.

slothtrop 3y ago

Broadly speaking I agree, but as it stands as a privately held company, they seem to be the antidote to enshittification and anti-consumer behavior brought on by publicly traded conglomerates. Speaking of which, GoG Galaxy. Certainly hasn't gotten better.