That’s what it means, when half the comments lament how the game isn’t on Steam. People will say there’s only one store that matters, and then insist there’s plenty of meaningful competition, and utterly refuse to understand their own words.
Epic is an eight-ton gorilla. Half the industry licenses their engine. They made four billion dollars a year off one game. They offer lower prices, they give things away, they create exclusivity, and they offer a better revenue cut for developers. And they still can’t move the needle. Blaming a janky storefront is grasping for any excuse.
Why does matter. A lot. Just pointing to something and saying it’s a problem doesn’t help. You need to know why it happened to have any chance of changing things. That you and epic both apparently think throwing cash around should solve it suggests little will actually be done.
You’re not listening. This is not about “blame.” It’s barely about change. It is about the plain meaning of a common word, and how people will point fingers and clutch pearls to avoid acknowledging a simple fact.
Steam is a monopoly. No matter what I say, and no matter what you say. For whatever reason: they have a supermajority market share, on PC. People glibly treat major desired games like they don’t exist unless they’re on this one store.
The weirdest part is, it’s fine. Steam’s only clear sins are the 30% cut that they copied from consoles, and the real-money charges that must be legislated out of existence. But they have the power to become a problem - and we can’t guard against that if we don’t recognize it.
Having one good option is a single fuckup away from having no good options.
It took so long because Steam is a monopoly.
That’s what it means, when half the comments lament how the game isn’t on Steam. People will say there’s only one store that matters, and then insist there’s plenty of meaningful competition, and utterly refuse to understand their own words.
Epic is an eight-ton gorilla. Half the industry licenses their engine. They made four billion dollars a year off one game. They offer lower prices, they give things away, they create exclusivity, and they offer a better revenue cut for developers. And they still can’t move the needle. Blaming a janky storefront is grasping for any excuse.
It’s always wild to see Valve be blamed for another company shooting themselves in the foot (or in this case, yet another company entirely).
Why doesn’t matter.
The fact is - there’s one store anyone cares about. We have a word for that.
Why does matter. A lot. Just pointing to something and saying it’s a problem doesn’t help. You need to know why it happened to have any chance of changing things. That you and epic both apparently think throwing cash around should solve it suggests little will actually be done.
You’re not listening. This is not about “blame.” It’s barely about change. It is about the plain meaning of a common word, and how people will point fingers and clutch pearls to avoid acknowledging a simple fact.
Steam is a monopoly. No matter what I say, and no matter what you say. For whatever reason: they have a supermajority market share, on PC. People glibly treat major desired games like they don’t exist unless they’re on this one store.
Infrastructure monopolies are the nastiest. This one is so insidious too.
The weirdest part is, it’s fine. Steam’s only clear sins are the 30% cut that they copied from consoles, and the real-money charges that must be legislated out of existence. But they have the power to become a problem - and we can’t guard against that if we don’t recognize it.
Having one good option is a single fuckup away from having no good options.