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this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2024
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lol, replace Valve with Apple and Steam with App Store and everyone would have a very different tone on here despite the fact that they both charge 30%.
That'd be false equivalence. Valve doesn't own the platform in which they distribute games. Valve doesn't own Windows, macOS, or Linux, and to my knowledge they don't enforce any platform-specific restrictions like Apple does. Not sure why you'd swap the two with regards to this case.
Yeah, it's also ignoring that the issue with Apple's "30% cut" isn't that they take 30% of game sales. It's that they're forcing you to use their payment processing service to put an app on the store, and then they take a 30% cut out of that, even though third-party payment processing providers take much smaller cuts than that.
Physical stores also took a 30% sales cut, because there's value in getting people to see your product. It's literally been the standard storefront cut for decades. Microsoft and Sony take the same cuts for their console sales/transactions.
Valve does a lot more for companies than just put eyes on their games, too. They're pushing for Linux-compatibility with Proton, they provide you with networking libraries and infrastructure for multiplayer servers if you use SteamWorks, Steam will optionally update your game's SDL libraries so you have up-to-date controller bindings, etc. It's not like they're sitting there twiddling their thumbs and taking 30% of your money for nothing.
I'd argue Microsoft and Sony do comparable work for devs on their platforms too.
The whole argument against the 30% cut is so fucking dumb.
Do you need to own a platform to have a de facto grip on game distribution? I like Steam as much as the next guy, but it’s totally douchey the way nerds fall all over themselves to shit on Apple, but not Valve for charging the same thing. But, I guess not “owning” a platform makes you immune from criticism. Glad to know where the arbitrary line has been drawn. Given that “owning” the platform is the problem, then I’m hoping to see an equal amount of rage at Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft for their online stores that charge 30% to distribute games.
It helps immensely to own the platform you're also distributing software for if you're planning to enforce platform-specific restrictions, such as restricting which storefronts can even operate on your platform. Yknow, like Apple ~~does~~ did. But that aside, Valve does not have a de facto grip on game distribution because multiple platforms exist where Steam doesn't even distribute games (Microsoft Store, PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, etc.), and the only gaming platform that Steam does occupy has multiple competitors (Epic, Uplay, EA Play, GoG, itch.io, etc.).
There's reasons to shit on both of them, but Valve taking an initial 30% cut of games sold on their own platform makes sense. They offer way more services than the competition, and frankly developers don't have to use Steam. They can use any of the other aforementioned platforms to distribute their games, or just roll their own platform if they're daring and patient.
No idea how you came to this conclusion. Both companies have legit criticisms made against them that have pretty much nothing to do with the case discussed in the article. Apple does flat out anti-consumer, and sometimes anti-developer shit all the time, Valve's work culture isn't near as diverse as it should be in the 21st century, and they don't seem to do any sort of audits of new games they distribute, they also don't seem to care about abandoned titles people have already paid for, etc.
That's... not the problem though. Did you read the article? This is in relation to a class action lawsuit made by some disgruntled developers being put off by Valve's 30% cut on a platform where they have the option to use some other service lol. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are the only official distributors of digital games on their respective platforms.
I definitely criticize valve, 8 YEARS of one of my favorite games being filled with bots isn't just forgotten. I think their 500 employee model isnt fitting for a company their size. I think it's insane that you need to get verification that you own a game before you can play it (use Internet and block valves servers, your games won't work.)
I won't criticize them in this situation compared to Apple as on IOS you can't just download from itch.io or GOG like you can from PC. You're stuck paying a 30% cut not because it's helpful to use the platform like Steam, but because ITS THE ONLY OPTION.
I haven't bought a game on there in AGES, I'm mad at them too.
This will always be funny to me. In no other aspect of my life do I even know the charge of distributors or shops is, and I dont give a fuck. I still don't know why I as a consumer should give a fuck because that aint my problem.
I go where the best service and the best options for me are. In terms of digital games stores, Steam is easily that platform. In terms of phone platforms, for me it is easily not apple, I coule not care how much people charge to sell in their stores.
I do care about dumb monopolistic limitations though, things like apple forcing browsers to use webkit. That would be like steam forcing all games to use the source engine. Apple not allowing people to install their own store fronts, Google making that more difficult, Steam not allowing you to install Epic... oh wait.
Steam is a DRM system. It's amazing to hear people profess their horniness for a DRM system.
It's not just a drm system
It does a lot of things. Apparently developers mention that it even makes adding things like multiplayer support really easy
Also, cloud saves and such too
On Linux, they also emulate Windows for game compatibility
Steam can charge because they do what they do well and hide the fact they actually do a lot more. It's easier to get an old school game running if it's steam than a normal exe generally
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/The_big_list_of_DRM-free_games_on_Steam
I will just leave this
one of those cares about its customers, another doesnt. But which is which?
Delusional to thing one cares. We live in a capitalist civilization. No one gives a flying fuck about us.
Steam isn't a publicly traded company. Which means they can focus on customers and not investors.
let me rephrase, one has undestood its more profitable to not shit on customers which is the best we are going to get
If Valve went public Newell could exit with a golden parachute equitable to the GDP of Germany.
He kept it private and kept >50%. He is responsible for the mostly decent business practices Steam has simply because he has the final say on all policy.
That's not saying he can't fall from grace, but the guy seems to care considerably more than the operators of every other digital storefront aside from maybe GOG.
I didn't learn things but I can count two sides which, since they are sides, that means they're the same.
/s
it's almost like these 2 companies have wildly different practices regarding how they treat their customers and business partners.