I’d argue they do have a monopoly. My friends don’t know how to get a game if it isnt on steam. They are scared if I show them a game on a website to get (like armegatron).
I’m just saying, do not trust steam, make sure your games are truly DRM free, and be ready to pay subscription pricing for downloads and steam cloud saves. With server storage pricing being insane and gonna keep climbing, they can’t keep giving you unlimited downloads and storage forever.
DRM free would improve Steam, I’m with you there. But if we’re talking about theoretical enshittification, there is nothing to stop them from adding DRM to existing purchases. And then you’d have to had to make a backup of every exe you downloaded, and not care about cloud saves, etc…so I’m saying I get your point kinda but there isn’t much point in speculating because services like that can always change unless the law prevents it. Which it SHOULD, but I’m not holding my breath. So all we can do is reward good behavior with how we spend money.
Yep I’d agree. I just am wary of any walled garden, because once they lock you in and kill off everything else (ie, the goal of capitalism) youre fucked. See: apple, amazon, google, etc.
I’ve… Literally never heard anybody using the friend network as a reason to use steam. Most games with multiplayer have some way for you to connect with people outside of your steam friends.
Also, that’s the network effect. That’s not what a walled garden is.
You can’t invite someone to a game if they dont have steam. On games that ive ever played anyways. I’m sure theres exceptions. I’d say its both really. Its more so a network effect yeah I was misusing the term.
I’d argue they do have a monopoly. My friends don’t know how to get a game if it isnt on steam. They are scared if I show them a game on a website to get (like armegatron).
I’m just saying, do not trust steam, make sure your games are truly DRM free, and be ready to pay subscription pricing for downloads and steam cloud saves. With server storage pricing being insane and gonna keep climbing, they can’t keep giving you unlimited downloads and storage forever.
First one is a quintessential skill issue.
DRM free would improve Steam, I’m with you there. But if we’re talking about theoretical enshittification, there is nothing to stop them from adding DRM to existing purchases. And then you’d have to had to make a backup of every exe you downloaded, and not care about cloud saves, etc…so I’m saying I get your point kinda but there isn’t much point in speculating because services like that can always change unless the law prevents it. Which it SHOULD, but I’m not holding my breath. So all we can do is reward good behavior with how we spend money.
Yep I’d agree. I just am wary of any walled garden, because once they lock you in and kill off everything else (ie, the goal of capitalism) youre fucked. See: apple, amazon, google, etc.
How is steam a walled garden? Thus far they’ve been acting in favour of compatibility, to the contrary.
Its better than others. But still, its “where all your friends are”. No one is going to use anything else because everyone uses steam.
I’ve… Literally never heard anybody using the friend network as a reason to use steam. Most games with multiplayer have some way for you to connect with people outside of your steam friends.
Also, that’s the network effect. That’s not what a walled garden is.
You can’t invite someone to a game if they dont have steam. On games that ive ever played anyways. I’m sure theres exceptions. I’d say its both really. Its more so a network effect yeah I was misusing the term.