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Valve "played capitalism so well they broke it" and now Steam can never be replaced, former Epic dev says: "I don't think this is fixable" (www.gamesradar.com)
submitted 6 days ago by to c/pcgaming@lemmy.ca
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[–] 25 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (15 children)

When Gabe passes one day and the next owner is some business dimwit and makes steam really win capitalism, pretty sure we'll jump to GoG. That's my headcanon at least. Because that's what always happens to private companies when the person who cares about the thing no longer leads the company.

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  • [–] 1 point 5 days ago (3 children)

    How?

    I try to buy GoG over Steam, at any price, but the vast majority of the time the game I want is only on Steam, or Steam/1st party launcher.

    They’ve got the whole market.

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  • [–] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

    It's a chicken and egg kind of problem. But ultimately, it's where gamers go. Where we vote to put our dollars basically. If it's GoG or some other platform that becomes open source or something that works to build a good product, that's where publishers will eventually move to as well after the paying audience moves. But yeah, of course lots of big name studios will fight tooth and nail and won't supply DRM free versions willingly.

    Unless policy gets instituted to force them of course.

    https://www.theverge.com/policy/1013521/video-game-ownership-bill-congress-power-to-the-players-act

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  • [–] 2 points 5 days ago (1 child)

    The paying audience is not going to move though. I hate to say it, but gamers (in aggregate, not individually) have proven they will collectively buy stuff with horrible MTX and other anti-features. If Steam gets these, they will not budge until it is too late.

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  • [–] 2 points 5 days ago

    I don't disagree. We'll have to feel pain before anyone changes. That's how conservative, reactionary thinking works. Until gas in the US went people didn't give a shit about their neighbors and fascism. Personal harm/gain move people more than empathy or anecdotes unfortunately. Good ole capitalism reinforcing selfishness and narcissim.

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  • [–] 1 point 5 days ago (5 children)

    Is GoG immune?

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  • [–] 2 points 5 days ago (3 children)

    Not entirely, but they're focused on delivering DRM free copies for your purchases. So if they were to pivot and revoke your library, that part is impossible if you've downloaded your DRM free installation files.

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  • [–] 2 points 5 days ago (2 children)

    Do you keep an up to date copy of all your games installers?

    I have some games on GoG. But when I wanted to install games, I got their launcher installer. You need to go through some dark path to find the true installer. At least it was the case a couple years back.

    Also a few month ago they putted an announce to hire someone to lead the Galaxy launcher. They explicitly asked for someone that would push the use of AI in their team.

    I fear the moment they gain enough traction, the game won't be as easy to install DRM free. Their launcher will be the DRM, just like steam.

    So yeah, they provide an escape hatch for now, but sadly other than that it looks to me they are more like Epic than Valve. I have not much trust for them.

    (Maybe Humble Bundle stopping to provide DRM free download of the game + the steam key eaeliy on made me very skeptical of this?)

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  • [–] 1 point 4 days ago (1 child)

    You need to go through some dark path to find the true installer. At least it was the case a couple years back.

    No? Literally just go to your games page on the website, click the game, and "Download Offline Backup Game Installers" is right where it's been for as long as I can remember.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

    When you know you have DRM free installers on this store, and you "just" want to download them. Where do you click?

    Screenshot of the GoG "Download and install now" popup.

    The big blue button or the little > line that look like it is a title? It is exactly like the cookies popup that show front and center the "accept all" button, but hide in text at the top somewhere the "Continue without accepting cookies" link.

    For me to not call that a dark pattern you need to have the same visual language for both download:

    • Both a big blue button ✅
    • Both a link ✅
    • One is a big blue button, the other is hidden behind some sort of title that don't look clickable? ❌
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  • [–] -2 points 5 days ago (3 children)

    Gabe doesn't even work at valve anymore. He passed the torch long ago. Please don't keep repeating this.

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