This is the result of those other entities trying to start their own version of Steam. Ubisoft has given up at this point I think (don't quote me on that), but nearly every other AAA publisher is slowly trying to build their own storefront and seeding their userbase with their most loyal fans.
Epic has arguably been the most successful, but the article is clear about that. They have millions (billions?) of dollars to burn to break into the market by giving away free games and paying for exclusivity deals.
Microsoft is an interesting case because they also have Xbox which leads to a bleedover into PC game sales with the same users.
Now here's an idea I've been toying with. Steam has made all the information available for other companies to create handhelds that run SteamOS. I wonder if other AAA publishers, hell, even Epic Games, will use that IP to create their own consoles that are linked to their platforms? It's worked for MS with the Xbox, and the Steamdeck is selling like crazy.
It seems that hardware is the key that unlocks consistent growth for gaming platforms, and even now, Steam basically "owns" the PC hardware market.
Regardless, it's gonna be a great decade for gamers I think because competition has never been higher!
> It seems that hardware is the key that unlocks consistent growth
Steam or Epic never needed that. What both of them had was immensely successful games but each utilized their own advantages. Steam used its Counterstrike network effects to grow their platform, CS was also their guinea pig to test their Steam idea in the first place. Epic on the other hand has a Fortnite windfall and it is spending its way to relevancy.
No it wasn't. HL2 was the first game released on Steam but it was used before that for CS updates and asset downloads. Both during the beta and after that.
Epic has arguably been the most successful, but the article is clear about that. They have millions (billions?) of dollars to burn to break into the market by giving away free games and paying for exclusivity deals.
Microsoft is an interesting case because they also have Xbox which leads to a bleedover into PC game sales with the same users.
Now here's an idea I've been toying with. Steam has made all the information available for other companies to create handhelds that run SteamOS. I wonder if other AAA publishers, hell, even Epic Games, will use that IP to create their own consoles that are linked to their platforms? It's worked for MS with the Xbox, and the Steamdeck is selling like crazy.
It seems that hardware is the key that unlocks consistent growth for gaming platforms, and even now, Steam basically "owns" the PC hardware market.
Regardless, it's gonna be a great decade for gamers I think because competition has never been higher!