Post #3244526

2026-06-03 03:06 UTC

Multiple companies have tried to become the de facto games store and every last one of them has failed not because Steam uses its dominant position to crush them, but because not a single one of them has been willing to invest in the features, capabilities, and pro consumer policies that Steam has. Every single one of them thought that doing the bare minimum and then throwing cash at ads and publishers would be the path to victory. It wasn’t. Yeah, Steam may be effectively a monopoly, but it’s because nobody else really wants to compete with them at their level. The closest anyone has ever come is GOG.

Replies (4)

@9488fcea02a9@sh.itjust.works 2026-06-03 03:30

Ideologically, gog is the winner for me… EXCEPT they refuse to have a native linux client, so i stick with steam

Open ##3246651
@PlasticExistence@lemmy.world 2026-06-03 03:25

No other company has invested more in trying to free our PC games from Microsoft either. On top of that, Valve’s investment still benefits the entire FOSS ecosystem. I worry about what the company will look like when Gabe isn’t there anymore, but for now, I keep buying on Steam because I want to vote with my wallet, and I vote for Linux and FOSS. That said, Asked about this rule, Newell repeatedly denied it exists, even when shown internal communications seemingly showing Valve employees enforcing it: “Valve does not have a policy or practice of dictating prices to third-party software developers on other platforms.” When asked how Valve would react if it ever happened, Newell initially said he was confused by the question and then added, “Many of our partners and many of our customers are quite happy with the service that we’re providing.” This isn’t the first time I’ve read this, and if Valve is using their position to keep prices higher, then that is bad behavior that needs correction.

Open ##3254934
@Chozo@fedia.io 2026-06-03 07:12

Why do I feel like we could trace the IP of the comment back to Gabe's yacht?

Open ##3269967
@nous@programming.dev 2026-06-03 04:42

Yeah, Steam may be effectively a monopoly, but it’s because nobody else really wants to compete with them at their level. Steam has two types of customers. Us the gamers where we can decide which platform to use. They have an effective monopoly on us because they provide a good service. But with a large game library we are locked into steam as well and cannot just switch to a different platform. If valve ever did decide to be evil then we are screwed. But developers are also customers of valve. And this is arguably where valve makes their money. They take a cut from the developers sales. Devs cannot just use a different platform without cutting out a huge userbase. This gives valve a real monopolistic control over developers.

Open ##3271108