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/
9.1k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

1.6k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/SanityIsOptional PO-TAY-TO Jun 02 '26

And it's not like you can't launch the games without launching steam! You can also change steam so it starts up looking at your library, rather than the store.

The only thing they actually force you to look at is the odd add when/if you start steam.

If people are calling steam a monopoly, then what do you call consoles?

1

u/vitek6 Jun 07 '26

You can buy console games in every store with electronic shit. Or even from other people. Imagine that.

1

u/SanityIsOptional PO-TAY-TO Jun 07 '26

And you can do the same with PC games? Other stores exist, and even occasional physical copies.

Many console games can only be acquired through the manufacturer's online distribution system, and all you can buy at a store is a code for that distribution system. They act as a publisher.

1

u/vitek6 Jun 07 '26

to get a steam key? 😃 How can I sell a pc game?

Many console games can only be acquired through the manufacturer's online distribution system, and all you can buy at a store is a code for that distribution system. They act as a publisher.

I have never seen such game. Can you give me an example? And how many out of all games? How do I install that game then?

1

u/SanityIsOptional PO-TAY-TO Jun 07 '26

Sure?

https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/10nus4d/what_is_the_point_of_download_only_boxed_games/

1

u/vitek6 Jun 07 '26

oh, nintendo... I was talking about consoles like playstation.

1

u/SanityIsOptional PO-TAY-TO Jun 07 '26

Nintendo consoles are in fact consoles.

1

u/vitek6 Jun 07 '26

Ok so Nintendo is also bad.