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[AlexxKidd]

Along with the news of Epic's digital launcher with 88 percent revenue going toward developers, we had several announcements in the past few days where it's becoming clear that Steam will be the odd-man out for a lot of companies. Titles like Ashen



And Satisfactory were either initially announced as being on Steam then later removed, or excluded it entirely. Now comes news that Bethesda's Rage 2 will skip Steam.

They is not that huge of a shock as Fallout 76 skipped Steam, but many thought that may have been a one-off due to the nature of the game. Now it's becoming clear that Bethesda is most likely going the EA route and betting on themselves. DOOM Eternal and ESVI we can assume will follow suit. Along with how many other developers?

I'm not saying Steam is going anywhere, but, could its days as the PC's sole Top Gun be numbered even quicker than we may have imagined?

 

[Blam]

I'm not saying Steam is going anywhere, but, could its days as the PC's sole Top Gun be numbered even quicker than we may have imagined?

Nah because every other publisher doesn't understand how to create a working launcher. Bethesda included and same with Epic. Epic honestly is gonna have a failing store. They are doing everything Origin did but worse and it's gonna be the same fate as the Origin Launcher only used for a single game and nothing more.

 

[Razzorn34]

It'll depend on if people want to grab yet another launcher to play this. I don't see it happening.

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

Nice thread title. It's only natural that these platforms would begin offering 'exclusives' for the sake of competition.

Can't have 'the Netflix of gaming' unless you have those 'Netflix Originals' to entice subscriptions.

This is why exclusives will always, always be a thing in spite of what starry-eyed PC gamers may say.

 

[DreamsiclesPlz]

Looks like I won't be buying Rage 2 then!

 

[dirthead]

It's not a strong enough property to stand on its own like that. Bethesda will be lucky if anyone buys this at all. The first one sold like shit even with Carmack behind it.

 

[a multicultural team of v]

Nice thread title. It's only natural that these platforms would begin offering 'exclusives' for the sake of competition.

Can't have 'the Netflix of gaming' unless you have those 'Netflix Originals' to entice subscriptions.

This is why exclusives will always, always be a thing in spite of what starry-eyed PC gamers may say.

Which is interesting considering Valve has gone out of their way to NOT make games anymore, which would function as their killer app exclusives. Especially considering Steam is only even a thing because of Half-Life 2. Its like theyve forgotten their own playbook.

 

[Fbh]

It's not a strong enough property to stand on its own like that. Bethesda will be lucky if anyone buys this at all. The first one sold like shit even with Carmack behind it.

This is how I see it too.
Releasing your own launcher can work but you need a big release to go alongside it. A Bethesda launcher with Skyrim 2 would probably be enough to make most people overlook it not being on steam. But Bethesdas latest offering as of right now is the worst reviewed game they have ever made and Rage isn't a big or popular franchise either.

At least Epic has Fortnite

 

[Sub_Level]

So this means Doom Eternal will be as well.

Christ.

 

[theHFIC]

I would only be on board if Bethesda gives me the option of picking how many random users get sent my personal information upon purchase.

 

[dirthead]

This is how I see it too.
Releasing your own launcher can work but you need a big release to go alongside it. A Bethesda launcher with Skyrim 2 would probably be enough to make most people overlook it not being on steam. But Bethesdas latest offering as of right now is the worse reviewed game they have ever made and Rage isn't a big or popular franchise either.

At least Epic has Fortnite

Yup. They can get away with it for Doom 2 but not this.

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

I would only be on board if Bethesda gives me the option of picking how many random users get sent my personal information upon purchase.

The real tragedy is that people would know you use the Bethesda launcher in the first place. How does one come back from that?

 

[DarkestHour]

Guess I won't be buying it then.

 

[Kazza]

Which is interesting considering Valve has gone out of their way to NOT make games anymore, which would function as their killer app exclusives. Especially considering Steam is only even a thing because of Half-Life 2. Its like theyve forgotten their own playbook.

Maybe this will incentivize Steam to start making new games again, maybe even Half Life 3, Portal 3? (there are already rumours of some kind of VR game)

I wonder if any Japanese companies will start their own launchers too? If Sega were to make one and release the next Total War and Football Manager on it exclusively, then that would make an impact. Maybe Japanese developers will band together: Sega, Capcom, and SquareEnix would make a pretty powerful combo.

While I understand that people are used to steam and that this is going to cause some inconvenience in the short-term, I think it should be beneficial in the long term (more competition etc)

Exciting times for PC gaming, whatever ends up happening.

 

[thief183]

I'm ok with this, competition is always good

 

[dirthead]

Maybe this will incentivize Steam to start making new games again, maybe even Half Life 3, Portal 3? (there are already rumours of some kind of VR game)

I wonder if any Japanese companies will start their own launchers too? If Sega were to make one and release the next Total War and Football Manager on it exclusively, then that would make an impact. Maybe Japanese developers will band together: Sega, Capcom, and SquareEnix would make a pretty powerful combo.

While I understand that people are used to steam and that this is going to cause some inconvenience in the short-term, I think it should be beneficial in the long term (more competition etc)

Exciting times for PC gaming, whatever ends up happening.

Valve doesn't have the chops to make a follow up to any of their real games anymore. I don't know if anyone's looked at the company lately, but basically everyone who was any good left.

 

[LordRaptor]

 

[Kazza]

Begun, the PC store wars have.

 

[AlexxKidd]

It's not a strong enough property to stand on its own like that. Bethesda will be lucky if anyone buys this at all. The first one sold like shit even with Carmack behind it.

I don't disagree with this. Rage 2 will not be the straw that breaks the camel's back. BUT Bethesda does have properties that could make a whole lotta noise, so if we assume Doom and TES will follow those are titles that move the needle.

 

[Shifty]

As someone who played and enjoyed the original game well enough (outside of the non-ending), I don't care enough about Rage 2 to download Bethesda's launcher specifically to play it. May have done in a Steam sale though.

 

[Calibos]

Jesus...this all gives me a headache. I think Bethesda seems ripe for an MS acquisition right now. Just call up Zenimax Phil...

 

[Nacery]

So this means Doom Eternal will be as well.

Christ.

There still a lot of time to Doom Eternal to be released. If Rage 2 bombs hard enough there may be a possibility that the Doom will release in both platforms.

 

[Halo is Back]

There still a lot of time to Doom Eternal to be released. If Rage 2 bombs hard enough there may be a possibility that the Doom will release in both platforms.

Fat chance Doom is going to be on steam

 

[Blam]

Begun, the PC store wars have.

It hurts fam. We can't have the equivalent of console was on my pc.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Am I the only one that hates the idea of having a game on Steam and then its sequel on a separate launcher? I love being organized, and I hate the idea of not having my games (especially a series) in one place.

I mean, I know it's nothing new, and it was annoying already having a separate proprietary launcher for 2-3 games. I just wish I could have all of my games belonging to one series be in one place...

Sure, I could still filter everything through Steam, but it'd still be gross having to open more than one launcher, etc. Lol.

I prefer my FPSs on PC, but this kind of outcome is really making me look at my consoles differently...

 

[thief183]

Am I the only one that hates the idea of having a game on Steam and then its sequel on a separate launcher? I love being organized, and I hate the idea of not having my games (especially a series) in one place.

I mean, I know it's nothing new, and it was annoying already having a separate proprietary launcher for 2-3 games. I just wish I could have all of my games belonging to one series be in one place...

Sure, I could still filter everything through Steam, but it'd still be gross having to open more than one launcher, etc. Lol.

I prefer my FPSs on PC, but this kind of outcome is really making me look at my consoles differently...

You can always add your nonsteam games on steam if you want, you will have the other launcher too but at least you got them all in the same spot.

I prefer to launch only on store at the time and steam eats 4/5 fps.

 

[FearlessBelgian]

Rip this game... And f*ck off epic launcher...

All the money for editor, all to loose for the customer...

 

[kaczmar]

I will really feel bad for the gamers that will eventually lose access to purchased titles when these individual launchers begin to fail (and be discontinued). I don't think the PC industry can (or will) support this many launchers in the years to come.

 

[TyphoonStruggle]

Competition is good.

Valve isn't in my good graces considering the recent DOTA 2 China fiasco.

 

[Stitch]

I'm ok with this, competition is always good

Ehh maybe if the competitors know what they're doing, but so far all the other launchers were a bit shite.
It's like being at a marathon and steam is this guy who has won the gold medal a few times already and the other guys can't even tie their shoelaces.

 

[dorkimoe]

I don't want anymore launchers. Stop it.

 

[Chiggs]

I don't want anymore launchers. Stop it.

Especially one backed by Bethesda.

 

[Azurro]

Eh I don't game on PC and I understand this will be annoying, but you can't have a pseudo monopoly on the PC space for AAA titles. Publishers want to have that 100% revenue from their games, and if they can pull it off, rightly so.

 

[dorkimoe]

Especially one backed by Bethesda.

Which is weird because I had to download a Bethesda Launcher to get the Fallout 76 beta...

 

[strange headache]

Begun, the PC store wars have.

Yes and it's really frikkin' annoying. I have most of my games library on Steam and I really don't feel like juggling a dozen different platforms. Apparently, publishers are more interested in binding customers to their services, rather than selling their games.

 

[michaelius]

Competition is good.

Valve isn't in my good graces considering the recent DOTA 2 China fiasco.

Tell that to people on Linux where Steam is one of the biggest champions of Linux gaming. Or people in 3rd world coutries which need regional pricing to be able to afford games which Epic store doesn't have.

Also funny you mention China - since Epic is owned by Tencent Epic store is extremely unlikely to sell anything there as they would be competing against their owner.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Which is interesting considering Valve has gone out of their way to NOT make games anymore, which would function as their killer app exclusives. Especially considering Steam is only even a thing because of Half-Life 2. Its like theyve forgotten their own playbook.

No point wasting time and money creating new games. Why would they? Every game they sell, don't they get a 30% cut?

The amount of profits they are making has to be in the billions. No need to rock the boat.

 

[Kadayi]

Nah because every other publisher doesn't understand how to create a working launcher. Bethesda included and same with Epic. Epic honestly is gonna have a failing store. They are doing everything Origin did but worse and it's gonna be the same fate as the Origin Launcher only used for a single game and nothing more.

Agreed. I installed Epic Launcher today just to see the score and to describe it as rudimentary would be a compliment. I'm all for competition and I'm not a huge fan of Valve (in my view Steam should have been spun off as it's own thing years ago separate from Valve itself) but bar some exclusives there's nothing about it that screams Steam Killer. It's not better than Origin, Uplay, Battlenet or GOG that's for sure. Apparently, they're giving away free games every two weeks if you have an account, but my suspicion is it will be Unreal back catalogue or some such.

Curious to see what Valves response is to Epic's price challenge, especially for indies because even with Valves new pricing they're the still largely getting fucked. If anything it might incentivize Gabe to split Steam off as it's own entity versus continue to act as the financial life support for a development studio that has floundered in many peoples eyes.

Not really fussed about RAGE 2. I liked the first game, but the mohawks and general garishness don't hold much appeal truth be told.

 

[Starfield]

Can't wait to redownload the game on launch day again because it gets deleted!

 

[baphomet]

Steam has been a steaming pile of shit with no visibility for years. Can't blame publishers for making their own.

 

[Shai-Tan]

There might be a a big fish small pond appeal for some developers or popular games that don't need the promo but I doubt it pays off for good but not market driving games (where good is positive steam rating) beyond the visibility benefit of being an early mover, assuming bigger titles can draw in eyeballs for the marketplace. For the average user as glutted as Steam is it has less friction than spending time seeking out word of mouth and it performs as a proxy for it due to the quantity of feedback that other marketplaces can't offer. There's close to zero chance I buy a game I never heard of off Epic marketplace if it isn't backed up by good review feedback.

 

[zeorhymer]

I can see that EA, Ubi and Epic have their own launcher. A lot of games fall under one of those categories. With Bethesda, it's limited. Unless there's a smash hit like another Elder Scrolls, I don't see their store front being populated by a lot of titles.

 

[Alexios]

Ubisoft is doing it right, they have their own client but also sell their games on Origin and Steam and wherever. Well, I don't mind, this is still all the PC platform so it's not real console style exclusivity the way some people compare it here. As long as the launchers work well, I'm fine with them. If they don't work well, vote with your money. I don't have any EA games other than their freebies, some that activated from Steam back in the day and Battlefield 3 & 1. Also, you can always just place game shortcuts on the desktop or in a folder (and hey, assign them by genre or whatever way you want with sub folders!) and even make that an extra icon popping the list up from your start bar or wherever if you want to launch everything from the same place, that place can be Windows rather than yet another catch-all launcher

 

[TheUsual]

Wonder if companies will do this as an excuse to ignore PC releases going forward? Create their own launcher, fans say screw that, and it flops on PC.

 

[Alexios]

Rough example I cooked up in a minute (hence no shortcut images etc), this is the sort of thing I used to do when I cared to have everything in one place.

Nowadays I launch from the launchers, usually right clicking the tray icon. Games without mandatory launchers I have groups/sub groups set up on my start bar, same as any frequently used programs.

 

[Serianox]

The only thing this move shows me is that Bethesda publishing output is going to continue underperforming in sales.

 

[Optimus Lime]

I prefer my FPSs on PC, but this kind of outcome is really making me look at my consoles differently...

If Rage 2 is 60fps on the 1X, I'll just buy it there. At this point, I don't really give a shit about mouse and keyboard, and the fracturing of the PC retail space is the opposite of what I'm looking for.

 

[Blam]

Steam has been a steaming pile of shit with no visibility for years. Can't blame publishers for making their own.

uh i hope we are using the same launcher lol. Steam's not been a pile of shit. Have you tried to use the Epic Launcher? They can't even resume downloads from before the client was launched. So if you quit or crash you need to restart it lmao.

 

[a multicultural team of v]

No point wasting time and money creating new games. Why would they? Every game they sell, don't they get a 30% cut?

The amount of profits they are making has to be in the billions. No need to rock the boat.

Yeah but that is my point. This strategy works when they have a monopoly, but now that they suddenly have competition and could use exclusive Valve games they dont have the pipeline established to make them. If they didnt sit on their asses for the past decade they could have Half-Life 5 set to come out next year and this wouldnt even be a conversation.

 

[Helios]

Maybe they should first fix their launcher before restricting all their future games.