Post #3244615

2026-06-03 03:09 UTC

I wouldn’t say “enormous choice”. Realistically it’s either Steam, or Epic. Sure, GOG technically exists, but that’s a very niche audience. It’s amazing for what it is, but when new AAA games come out, you won’t see them on GOG. It’s great for retro games, and it’s basically a monopoly on getting DRM free exe files, but I wouldn’t say GOG is even trying to compete with Steam. Epic IS trying to compete with Steam, but…they’re just SO bad at it. I’ve heard that Epic’s free games do little more than act as a consequence free way to be demos for people who later buy the game full price on Steam. So, Epic is another option to Steam…but, is that it? That’s like saying Coke has plenty of competing colas, except Pepsi doesn’t exist, and RC Cola is technically competition that nobody chooses. That’s Epic. The RC Cola of gaming.

Replies (4)

@adarza@lemmy.ca 2026-06-03 03:22

That’s Epic. The RC Cola of gaming brutal.

Open ##3245704
@Kolanaki@pawb.social 2026-06-03 03:30

There’s GOG, but that’s a very niche audience Contrary to the name, they also have good NEW games, too.

Open ##3246650
@SuiXi3D@fedia.io 2026-06-03 03:38

Xbox/Windows? EA? Ubisoft? Hell, Blizzard? A lot of publishers run their own launchers/stores. I agree they're largely irrelevant, but they're all still active so they must bring in some revenue.

Open ##3247445
@chrash0@lemmy.world 2026-06-03 04:02

i dunno if “realism” is an argument here. you’re talking about a specific market segment targeting a specific hardware configuration and distribution medium. developers still have the choice to target Nintendo or Sony hardware, to sell physical copies or codes through Walmart, Amazon, Target, Gamestop, your local game store, etc, to sell via mobile platforms like iOS or Android, etc etc. honestly, if i sat here and listed them all out it would be an enormous comment. i do see how Valve has a hegemony over a big part of the market, but they haven’t been anticompetitive or tried to push anyone out or buy up competition. at least that’s not what’s being claimed, as far as i can tell. Epic’s lawsuits against Apple and Google don’t even apply cuz you can install friggin Windows on their hardware if you had some sort of mental illness.

Open ##3249820