@firecat @EU_Commission - you can buy games elsewhere more often nowadays, as publishers are more willing to sell on non-steam stores. The only issue is that not every publisher takes that route, because of what I think the real issue is:
Steam is the market leader, to an extent that other video game distribution platforms struggle to exist outside of more niche applications often propped up by loss-leading money. They didn't necessarily arrive here by underhanded means though, certainly not to the extent of Apple historically and currently. It is very hard to disrupt the market leader if the majority of consumers on it are satisfied with it, and even then it can still maintain its position through inertia.
Analyzing the other stores, this is what we have to contend with:
- GOG (which in my personal opinion is the best way other than Steam to run a game store) has a solid niche, but due to its convictions with being DRM-free (which I adore) it struggles to attract publishers, and hence gamers as well.
@firecat @EU_Commission
- Battle.net, Ubisoft Connect, Rockstar Social Club, and other major AAA launchers are most often just dedicated to the games they make/publish, with few exceptions. They can't replace the market for wider game selection like Steam.
In addition, they lack some of the features/UX/creature comforts of Steam's platform, as well as layering on extra DRM measures.
- EA Origin gets closer to being a steam replacement than the former set, as it has more third party selection in addition to its own games, but it's still closer to just being another AAA publisher launcher than a general game store than anything else.
@firecat @EU_Commission
- Battle.net, Ubisoft Connect, Rockstar Social Club, and other major AAA launchers are most often just dedicated to the games they make/publish, with few exceptions. They can't replace the market for wider game selection like Steam.
In addition, they lack some of the features/UX/creature comforts of Steam's platform, as well as layering on extra DRM measures.