Newell also said in 2023 testimony that Steam's 'unwritten rule' against charging lower prices on other storefronts does not exist.
  • GeneralEmergency@lemmy.worldEnglish
    24 days

    We HAD a lot of choices. Because there were lots of digital distribution platforms back in the 2000s.

    Until that libertarian bastard paid publishers to use Steam for DRM on physical releases.

    Used its Most Favoured Nation clause to prevent other services from charging less.

    And whoops. They all go out of business.

    Generations of G*mers have grown up only knowing the Steam monopoly. That’ll they create any old excuse to try and defend it.

    • ryathal@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      23 days

      There’s still choices, you can buy from the Microsoft store, or publisher stores like origin or Uplay. Epic is a direct competitor, GOG is in a subset of the market like itch.io. Amazon sells PC games. There’s several streaming options as well.

      PC gaming is a far more competitive market than your grocery store.

      • GeneralEmergency@lemmy.worldEnglish
        22 days

        And G*mers throw a pissy fit anytime you suggest using them.

        Also Steam leverages it’s monopoly to prevent games being sold cheaper on other services.

        • ryathal@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          22 days

          Gamers complain all the time. I also don’t really have sympathy for billionaire publishers complaining about the one company not actively fucking consumers.