People are salty about Epic because they’re buying exclusivity. People don’t dislike them because they’re epic, there’s lots more to hate about Origin and Blizzard.
Having exclusivity does not “bring competition”, it just forces you to only go to one source. If they competed by being cheaper, or by having a better service, or more features, that would benefit consumers. Having them simply say “we’ll bribe you not to sell your product anywhere else” and forcing people to use their store does not “bring competition” and it is not good for users.
There’s room to compete with steam by being better or cheaper. They chose instead to try to force a restriction in consumer choice. This should be punished by consumers.
IIRC, when Epic first announced their games service and better terms to publishers, the reacton was generally positive (as much as the internet ever is…). It was Metro:Exodus going exclusive that really started turning things around, as that was a game where people had already pre-ordered on Steam. So people paid $60 to Steam, and then later were told that they’d either have to wait a year, or cancel their Steam order and go buy it somewhere else.
Now, should the anger have been more towards the publisher who took the exclusivity money rather than the game store who offered it? Perhaps, but it was still something they probably should not have done, and it kind of kicked the door open for anyone wanting to hate on them for any other reason.
They simply have to buy exclusivity.
If you were trying to sell Game-X for $50 and compete with Steam selling it for $50 you will flat out go out of business right out of the gate.
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No one wants another client.
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Steam has had 17(ish) years to refine their platform. You’ve had zero.
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You can try to compete on price but Steam can lower prices to match and easily outlast you…probably even selling for a bit more.
Either you accept Steam has a near monopoly on this or accept that to break into the market you need to do more than turn on a server and hope people will buy from you.
Just Cause 4 and Wheels of Aurelia now free on Epic.
And as far as ‘having’ to buy exclusivity, I disagree. Yes, they need to do something more than just open a new store. But that ‘something’ doesn’t have to be exclusivity. GOG is being successful; they started out with a niche that nobody else had (good old games) and advanced into a general store that provides something that (some) customers want - DRM-free games. GOG, in fact, is my preferred place to buy games; if it is at all possible, I will buy a game there rather than Steam, and I have made the decision not to buy games at all just because they haven’t been available on GOG, when they’re not ones I wanted very strongly.
Epic COULD have gone in that direction or some other. The free games thing is definitely a gimmick that would have gotten me buying on Epic, IF the exclusivity thing hadn’t made me refuse to ever give them money, even for games I really, really want to play. They could have made deals with the publishers to let us port our library over (something GOG does when possible, btw). There absolutely are other gimmicks and things they can offer that isn’t just buying exclusivity and forcing people to get the game on their platform.
So did they need SOMETHING to overcome Steam’s massive advantage? Yes. Did it have to be buying up exclusive titles? No, I don’t think so.
Just Cause 4 and Wheels of Aurelia now free on Epic.
And as far as ‘having’ to buy exclusivity, I disagree. Yes, they need to do something more than just open a new store. But that ‘something’ doesn’t have to be exclusivity. GOG is being successful; they started out with a niche that nobody else had (good old games) and advanced into a general store that provides something that (some) customers want - DRM-free games. GOG, in fact, is my preferred place to buy games; if it is at all possible, I will buy a game there rather than Steam, and I have made the decision not to buy games at all just because they haven’t been available on GOG, when they’re not ones I wanted very strongly.
Epic COULD have gone in that direction or some other. The free games thing is definitely a gimmick that would have gotten me buying on Epic, IF the exclusivity thing hadn’t made me refuse to ever give them money, even for games I really, really want to play. They could have made deals with the publishers to let us port our library over (something GOG does when possible, btw). There absolutely are other gimmicks and things they can offer that isn’t just buying exclusivity and forcing people to get the game on their platform.
So did they need SOMETHING to overcome Steam’s massive advantage? Yes. Did it have to be buying up exclusive titles? No, I don’t think so.
Gah. Damned freezing up multi-posts.
If you subscribe to Amazon Prime and sign up for Twitch, they’re offering rotating free games. Current list is Turok HD, Earthlock, Lightmatter, Kathy Rain: A Detective is Born, and Etherborn. You can also get them by signing up for a 30 day prime trial.
I am on a family plan, meaning I can get free 2 day shipping (or used to before COVID) but don’t get Prime Video through my account, only the primary. It doesn’t work if you do this.
I had hoped that Epic offering much, much better deals to the devs/publishers on the lower cut Epic took would mean lower prices on games for consumers and that would lure people in.
But that didn’t happen. The devs/publishers charged the same and pocketed the difference.
Some more obscure offers out there right now, one is a free DLC for Cities: Skyline after you jump through a few hoops (Paradox account, link to Steam and newletter) available until the 26th of April.
The other i came across is Namco Bandai offering Pac-Man Champion Edition 2 for free on Playstation, Xbox and Steam
While this is not “free” Alien Isolation is currently 95% off on Steam (selling for $2). Well worth a purchase IMO at that price.
nm
Total War: Shogun 2 is free to keep over the next couple of days or so.
TW: Shogun 2 is, by far, my favorite TW game there is (except for Warhammer which I think can be considered separately).
If you want to put them together then Shogun 2 is my second favorite TW game with some really good memories.
Either way, you can’t go wrong for “free.”
Man, there have been so many free games I haven’t even been able to keep up lately.
ubisoft/uplay is giving away Assassins Creed 2, Rayman Legends, Child of Light.
Epic store is giving away Amnesia, The Dark Descent and Crashlands
If you have an amazon prime account (which gets you free Twitch prime), Twitch is giving away AVICII Inventor, Fractured Minds, The Little Acre, Pankapu, Snake Pass, Urban Trial Playground
Also Squad, a tactical military shooter, is having a free weekend on steam.
Evil Genius is being given away for free (“Evil Genius 2” is close to release). (You need a Steam account)
Feels a bit dated IMO but hey…free.
It says its $9.99. Is there a code involved?
The free offer is available here.
Cool, I had a blast with that back in the day. I agree that it’s dated, I loaded it up again a few months ago and couldn’t get back in to it. Glad to hear there’s a second one, I’ll definitely have that on my radar.
Showdown Bandit is currently free on Steam