• Buffalox@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    50
    arrow-down
    5
    ·
    edit-2
    8 months ago

    Does it? Steam does not monopolize a platform, or demand exclusivity. With Steam you are 100% free to sell through other channels, and even be able to still use Steam. Also there are actual services on Steam, and there are possibilities for lower rates.

    • lorty@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      8 months ago

      IIRC there are still rules regarding pricing in other platforms if you want to be on steam.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        20
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        edit-2
        8 months ago

        Well not really, AFAIK they sell only about 20-50% of games sold for PC, depending on source. Not at all comparable to Apple that has maintained 100% for iPhone.
        Also Steam is an independent alternative to Microsoft store on Windows now. So again quite the opposite of the Apple monopoly control of their platform.

        • OsaErisXero@kbin.run
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          7
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          8 months ago

          I don’t know where you got that 20% statistic, but everything I’ve read and can find on short notice has it up around 70%.

          • Buffalox@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            9
            arrow-down
            3
            ·
            8 months ago

            I just checked up on it, because it’s a number I remember reading earlier. What I have noticed is that when the 75% market share is mentioned, it’s downloads, that’s a pretty meaningless number. The only number I could find was 18% SALES from 2013. No doubt that has increased in 11 years. I corrected the number to 20-50% since there is no way it can be 75% with several of the biggest game developers like Microsoft, EA, Epyc and others almost completely avoiding Steam. Together with independent sales, and Epic and Microsoft store, and smaller outlets like GOG and Humble Bundle.

            • Bgugi@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              6
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              8 months ago

              Yeah, percent downloads is particularly difficult to extrapolate for steam: they host a number of extremely popular “free” games, and are notorious for their sale pricing. In addition, they have (IMO) very generous policy for providing devs keys for use on their platform.