Publishers can make profits on closed platforms; in fact, they're almost essential due to the work it takes getting to market on a closed platform. Middle-man

Publishers can make profits on closed platforms; in fact, they're almost essential due to the work it takes getting to market on a closed platform. Middle-man distributors, however, don't typically profit from platforms. Valve's position on platforms that have built-in preferred digital distribution systems isn't surprising, they're using their position as OS vendor to boost their digital software distribution business.