They should be reigned in as a monopoly. That’s how it’s fixed. Nothing drastic either, just stop Valve from (say) dictating prices outside their platform, and do the same for Amazon and Walmart while they’re at it.
How DO you force the competition to be better? Because EGS plain sucks.
The price fixing part is an issue, but they don’t technically do any illegal price fixing. They just say they don’t want to see your game cheaper elsewhere - you can drop prices elsewhere AND on Steam though.
The price fixing part is an issue, but they don’t technically do any illegal price fixing. They just say they don’t want to see your game cheaper elsewhere - you can drop prices elsewhere AND on Steam though.
I mean, if Amazon or Walmart tell a supplier “we’re doubling our cut, but you can’t price any lower in cheaper stores. Don’t like it? We will drop your brand and ruin you,” people scream bloody murder.
…Because that’s exactly what Amazon and Walmart do! It’s awful, and it’s not okay if Valve does it either.
EGS is a victim of Sweeney’s absolutely massive ego, but still, I think they’d have gotten a lot more business if every game on there was 20% cheaper. No one can compete with Steam on software features at this point, so it’s either niche angles (like GoG being DRM free), discount stores (eg key resellers), or ‘1st’ party discount shops like EGS could be.
If only Valve was a public company and we could get a real look in their finances. I think many people would have a very different opinion of them. My little conspiracy theory is that this lack of transparency is why they’re flying under the radar of EU Digital Markets Act as they sure look like a gatekeeper.
The ‘Steam is a pseudo monopoly’ thread was NOT like this. It was a bunch of commenters simping for Valve and Gabe, even here on Lemmy.
…Which is why they can charge 30%, and Gabe has a few mega yachts.
I can think that Steam at least provides a ton of services and value for that 30% , while also being annoyed that governments don’t tax people more.
They should be reigned in as a monopoly. That’s how it’s fixed. Nothing drastic either, just stop Valve from (say) dictating prices outside their platform, and do the same for Amazon and Walmart while they’re at it.
How DO you force the competition to be better? Because EGS plain sucks.
The price fixing part is an issue, but they don’t technically do any illegal price fixing. They just say they don’t want to see your game cheaper elsewhere - you can drop prices elsewhere AND on Steam though.
I mean, if Amazon or Walmart tell a supplier “we’re doubling our cut, but you can’t price any lower in cheaper stores. Don’t like it? We will drop your brand and ruin you,” people scream bloody murder.
…Because that’s exactly what Amazon and Walmart do! It’s awful, and it’s not okay if Valve does it either.
EGS is a victim of Sweeney’s absolutely massive ego, but still, I think they’d have gotten a lot more business if every game on there was 20% cheaper. No one can compete with Steam on software features at this point, so it’s either niche angles (like GoG being DRM free), discount stores (eg key resellers), or ‘1st’ party discount shops like EGS could be.
If only Valve was a public company and we could get a real look in their finances. I think many people would have a very different opinion of them. My little conspiracy theory is that this lack of transparency is why they’re flying under the radar of EU Digital Markets Act as they sure look like a gatekeeper.