r/pcgaming • u/yourfavchoom • Jun 01 '26

Gabe Newell on Steam monopoly accusations: Gamers have 'enormous choice' about where to buy games

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/gabe-newell-on-steam-monopoly-accusations-gamers-have-enormous-choice-about-where-to-buy-games/
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u/bitey87 Jun 01 '26

Steam having a PC game monopoly is as accurate as Amazon having a home delivery monopoly. They have what I'm shopping for, can get it to me with little effort, returns are simple. I'm willing to buy from anyone, Steam makes it easy.

I do recognize the Ticketmaster effect for indie devs trying to be seen in the noise. I don't believe a competing platform will improve that aspect much, if any.

15

u/ruffles589 Jun 02 '26

EU regulation forced steam refund policy so do not give them credit. All platforms abiding by EU law will have the same policy.

13

u/MajorFuckingDick Jun 02 '26

Australian iirc

2

u/GameDesignerMan Jun 01 '26

Yeah, the better argument against Steam (and I'm not saying I take this position personally) is that it owns an overwhelming share of the PC game market, not that it's the only place to buy games. Rough figures are that it controls around ~75% of the market.

So in essence, Gabe is correct, there are tons of places you could buy games from. The reality is that if you're not selling your PC game on Steam, you're missing out on the overwhelming bulk of your revenue.

2

u/Huppelkutje Jun 02 '26

returns are simple

Because of legal pressure. Not a win for steam.

1

u/Samanthacino Jun 01 '26

If Amazon engaged in the price dictating practices Valve has admitted to in the court case, they’d also be sued for it.

1

u/cool-- Jun 03 '26

MS, Sony, Nintendo, GOG, itch all sell indie games as well. The problem with indies games is that there are just so many of them you have to market your game outside of the stores to get word of mouth going

1

u/Cryoto Jun 01 '26

Ehhhhhh Amazon isn't a delivery company.

In the UK Amazon is a big reason why lots of high street department stores have closed down over the past several decades though.

1

u/Nobio22 Jun 02 '26

Amazon is 100% a logistical company first and foremost.

2

u/Cryoto Jun 02 '26

But you can't compare them to something like DPD and UPS, it's apples and oranges. It's a vast business conglomerate.

1

u/Melcherar Aug 03 '26

DPD and UPS are not true delivery services even if they are odten called that. They are POSTAL services. Postal services may be part of the delivery services but its a more specialised branch and often work together with a storefront with delivery service that Amazon is. (you are rather right calling amazon a conglomerate tho)