Gabe Newell from Valve was quite right to fear about the future when he starting talking up Linux, and now it looks like Microsoft will be trying to push their own store even more.
Microsoft are moving to combine Windows 10 and Xbox One into one platform, and with that the Windows Store will become a bigger thing for them. This is something Gabe Newell of Valve feared, and it looks like it really is starting to become true. While there's nothing wrong with having universal games that work on W10 and XBone, making sure developers have to stick to their store is a problem.
The problem here, is that Microsoft are using their money and their exclusivity deals to keep certain games only on the Windows Store which locks out Steam in the process. There may not be too many doing it yet, but you can be sure over time Microsoft will sign more of these Windows 10 exclusive deals like they have with Quantum Break. Ars actually put it quite well in their article here:
Steam isn't exactly a picture of freedom, but it is available on the three major operating systems. It's free to sign up for and use with no monthly fee needed. Developers can have their game on Steam as well as any other store. You get to buy once and play on any platform where the game is supported, and so on. Steam in these cases is the lesser of two evils.
Is history about to repeat itself with Games For Windows Live version 2? I doubt it, since the Windows Store is tied in with Windows 10 and with their universal apps it might actually be a success, which again, is trouble for Valve.
I can't imagine Windows Store games selling very well at all, but I'm sure Microsoft will find a way to make it look like it is.
As for me, I'm happy with Ubuntu on my desktop and SteamOS on my Steam Machine for my couch gaming. I personally dual boot with Windows 10, but I won't ever touch the Windows Store. Why would I want to lock myself in like that? I hope others feel the same.
How do you feel about all this? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Microsoft are moving to combine Windows 10 and Xbox One into one platform, and with that the Windows Store will become a bigger thing for them. This is something Gabe Newell of Valve feared, and it looks like it really is starting to become true. While there's nothing wrong with having universal games that work on W10 and XBone, making sure developers have to stick to their store is a problem.
The problem here, is that Microsoft are using their money and their exclusivity deals to keep certain games only on the Windows Store which locks out Steam in the process. There may not be too many doing it yet, but you can be sure over time Microsoft will sign more of these Windows 10 exclusive deals like they have with Quantum Break. Ars actually put it quite well in their article here:
QuoteUnfortunately for Spencer, not only has the PC as gaming platform seen little improvement from Microsoft—bar DirectX 12—but the company's one-platform-fits-all approach simply isn't going to fly on PC. The PC community has its own rules and expectations. Forcing console-like restrictions on a group that values freedom was never going to end well. And now, with those people backed into a corner with Quantum Break—one of this year's most highly anticipated games—the backlash is only going to get bigger.
Steam isn't exactly a picture of freedom, but it is available on the three major operating systems. It's free to sign up for and use with no monthly fee needed. Developers can have their game on Steam as well as any other store. You get to buy once and play on any platform where the game is supported, and so on. Steam in these cases is the lesser of two evils.
Is history about to repeat itself with Games For Windows Live version 2? I doubt it, since the Windows Store is tied in with Windows 10 and with their universal apps it might actually be a success, which again, is trouble for Valve.
I can't imagine Windows Store games selling very well at all, but I'm sure Microsoft will find a way to make it look like it is.
As for me, I'm happy with Ubuntu on my desktop and SteamOS on my Steam Machine for my couch gaming. I personally dual boot with Windows 10, but I won't ever touch the Windows Store. Why would I want to lock myself in like that? I hope others feel the same.
How do you feel about all this? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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ChloeWolfieGirl 1 Mar 2016
The Windows store is even more restrictive than just no cross-buy. Apparently at least currently there's
* no SLI support
* Vsync is always on, g-sync/freesync doesn't work
* no overlays
* no .exe files, thus also no modding
* no overlays
* always borderless fullscreen
* no controllers other than the x-box controller
I just hope even many Windows gamers will draw the line at this point and not buy into this. At least a lot of people still remember GFWL and are skeptical.
I dont think PC gamers will accept the windows store, but I don't think they'll try to jump to Linux or anything I think they'll just try and ignore the windows store, I do hope they keep doing stupid things. like with windows 10 at the start of installation, you have to block ip addresses of spyware, then you have to switch off ad's on the homescreen, try to turn off auto updates, then you have to go out and track down to install the majority of your apps...
All they need to do now is by default block installing apps from the internet and do something stupid to make it so steam doesn't work and I'm sure that if you have the majority of games on your steam working with Linux you'd make the switch.
Then again, I don't know Windows gets away with WAY to much, we still need linux in stores, I think if people saw Ubuntu in pc shops they'd begin to see it as a viable alternative but until then its just some indie thing that wont work as well as windows and is complicated to install and what if things go wrong, in main stream minds, we need more big people showing care for linux, like Tek Syndicate, they havent done enough with it, and havent pushed it that much tbh, but they've mentioned it a few times, so I hope they start pushing it harsher.
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Mountain Man 1 Mar 2016
It gives the term "car crash" a whole new meaning.We will have locked down computers, locked down consoles, locked down phones, locked down tablets and locked down cars."Please refrain from going to work while your car is updating."
;)
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Since Newell is a former Microsoft guy,
he might still have excellent contacts to insiders.
Most likely he "knows" what Microsoft is up to.
This is, ofc, even more valuable than an educated guess.
he might still have excellent contacts to insiders.
Most likely he "knows" what Microsoft is up to.
This is, ofc, even more valuable than an educated guess.
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Homepcgamer 2 Mar 2016
Well... [as I said in another thread](https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/how-steamos-could-become-a-better-console-competitor.6653/page=5#r54662) Valve / Newell anticipated the Microsoft movement long time ago. This is why we have Steam for linux and SteamOS now, because Valve did more to keep PC gaming alive than anyone to let any other eat their cake. When all the industry was claiming that PC Gaming was dead Valve alone did Steam, and some masterpieces. They alone have built the PC gaming as we know it nowadays.
Where was Microsoft when the PC gaming was almost dead?
Where was Microsoft in the begining of Steam?
What did with Games for Windows?
I'll tell you... selling Office.
Now they want to lock down the market slowly, now that Valve did the hard work.
Some of you dont see the problem, but if Microsoft forces people to play their exclusive titles in their Store all the companys and people that will develop and play them on Win10 wil be locked to this Store and OS. Its a REAL exclusive. Valve never did something like that. Even Electronic Arts with Origin is more flexible. You can use Origin in other windows systems. With win10 and their store this is not possible.
I hope that Valve move their system faster forward, because Microsoft have the key to take them off the market at some point in the future. The days are numbered to the PC Gaming freedom in Windows.
Where was Microsoft when the PC gaming was almost dead?
Where was Microsoft in the begining of Steam?
What did with Games for Windows?
I'll tell you... selling Office.
Now they want to lock down the market slowly, now that Valve did the hard work.
Some of you dont see the problem, but if Microsoft forces people to play their exclusive titles in their Store all the companys and people that will develop and play them on Win10 wil be locked to this Store and OS. Its a REAL exclusive. Valve never did something like that. Even Electronic Arts with Origin is more flexible. You can use Origin in other windows systems. With win10 and their store this is not possible.
I hope that Valve move their system faster forward, because Microsoft have the key to take them off the market at some point in the future. The days are numbered to the PC Gaming freedom in Windows.
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mulletdeath 2 Mar 2016
Steam in these cases is the lesser of two evils
I don't see Steam as evil at all? It's a digital distribution platform - so what? It's even a platform for free software. And like it's said in the article: No exclusivity periods, it's free for the users, it's cross platform, it's proven to be a reliable service, they support Linux.
Where's the evilness?
It's proprietary software with some DRM, that's probably the evil to which he's referring. That's perfectly relevant for us Linux users.
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GustyGhost 2 Mar 2016
Steam in these cases is the lesser of two evils
I don't see Steam as evil at all? It's a digital distribution platform - so what? It's even a platform for free software. And like it's said in the article: No exclusivity periods, it's free for the users, it's cross platform, it's proven to be a reliable service, they support Linux.
Where's the evilness?
It's proprietary software with some DRM, that's probably the evil to which he's referring. That's perfectly relevant for us Linux users.
Agree, this is why I primarily look for games on GOG and if it's not there only then do I go to Steam. Valve can start to fix this problem by first identifying the few DRM-free titles that are on Steam as such. And also by open sourcing most or all of the Steam client.
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Exclusivity isn't a major problem anymore. You can expect exclusive releases when publisher is also a distributor (i.e. MS publishes and then distributes the game). So just ignore such games. It totally doesn't make any sense for others to be limited to one distributor. They are losing a huge potential chunk of sales.
Last edited by Shmerl on 2 Mar 2016 at 1:14 am UTC
Last edited by Shmerl on 2 Mar 2016 at 1:14 am UTC
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Mountain Man 2 Mar 2016
My one concern is that Microsoft will eventually say, "If you want to sell to Windows then you will distribute through us and only through us." How many developers and publishers will sign off on that deal simply because they can't ignore such a dominant market? Does Microsoft have the power to completely crush the Linux market?
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My one concern is that Microsoft will eventually say, "If you want to sell to Windows then you will distribute through us and only through us." How many developers and publishers will sign off on that deal simply because they can't ignore such a dominant market? Does Microsoft have the power to completely crush the Linux market?
Fortunately, I don't think they can legally pull that trick. Ever since the days of the Atari 2600 third party publishers were able (after an extensive legal battle), to produce unsanctioned games for Atari's machine. Microsoft may refuse to let you sell the game on their store unless it's exclusive, but I think that's the extent of their ability.
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I find it funny how I've been saying this was MS's intent since the xbox 360 came out. when I seen all the app integration across their phone and PC. It only makes sense because of how the mobile trends are going. people are moving away from PCs and into all-in-one defacto entertainment systems.
MS has been trying to become Apple ironically enough. but they've been doing it so subtle that not many would realize it until it's to late. The main thing for MS is to keep their developer base. which is a main thing for success. Eventually this is a way for MS to try and passive aggressively force people into the whole MS ecosystem which includes their phone.
This is why I still believe that Linux will eventually take a decent chunk out of the Market as long as Valve is taking notes and making the correct changes where necessary. But with how things are going for Ubuntu lately, even Ubuntu stands to take a decent chunk as well with the snappy package system.
MS has been trying to become Apple ironically enough. but they've been doing it so subtle that not many would realize it until it's to late. The main thing for MS is to keep their developer base. which is a main thing for success. Eventually this is a way for MS to try and passive aggressively force people into the whole MS ecosystem which includes their phone.
This is why I still believe that Linux will eventually take a decent chunk out of the Market as long as Valve is taking notes and making the correct changes where necessary. But with how things are going for Ubuntu lately, even Ubuntu stands to take a decent chunk as well with the snappy package system.
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@Mountain Man: They can't say such thing - it would be an anti-trust violation.
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Let's just judge them by the facts:I've seen Xbox game keys sold in some online stores, and while I don't have an Xbox and don't know all the details, I'd guess that means that other retailers can sell Microsoft games
Fact. Steam allows game developers to put the game on steam, then sell on other stores.
Microsoft its making exclusive games for their store.
Fact. Valve never going to make a game exclusive for its platform. (steam machines)Valve is making games exclusive to their "platform", which is Steam, the same way Microsoft is making games exclusive to their Xbox/Windows store
Microsoft its making exclusive games for xbox one.
Fact. Valve lets people vote which games are to be played in their system (greenlight). Microsoft have to approve your game.Can't argue here, but judging by the amount of crappy mobile games on the Windows store, it's probably not hard to get your game onto the store.
Conclusion:A monopoly is probably every company's wet dream, be it Microsoft, Valve or any other. Some things, like always online games, already exist, and yes, it is because of some big companies, but not necessarily Microsoft.
Microsoft are making movements who are proper of monopoly.
If you help a monopoly to consolidate, then you will be forced to obey their rules: Pay a fee to play online. Pay a fee monthly. Stay permanently connected to the internet to play even solo games. At the moment is consolidated, they will put rules and you only will be able to obey them.
Well, simply do not help monopolys.
What I'm trying to say is that while Microsoft seems like the greater evil here, that does not mean Valve and other companies are completely innocent and only want good for you. Every big company cares about profit and if a company is nice to the consumer, it's only because that may be profitable.
I apologize, if I'm defending Microsoft, but it just seems that people talk crap about Microsoft, just because they're Microsoft.
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Valve is making games exclusive to their "platform", which is Steam, the same way Microsoft is making games exclusive to their Xbox/Windows storeIf you're referring to the Source 2 engine, to my knowledge, Valve is not saying that games made using that engine cannot be sold outside of Steam; Valve is simply saying that, the Source 2 engine games must be sold in either Steam alone or Steam in addition to any other store.
Last edited by s8as8a on 2 Mar 2016 at 6:30 am UTC
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Valve is making games exclusive to their "platform", which is Steam, the same way Microsoft is making games exclusive to their Xbox/Windows storeIf you're referring to the Source 2 engine, to my knowledge, Valve is not saying that games made using that engine cannot be sold outside of Steam; Valve is simply saying that, the Source 2 engine games must be sold in either Steam alone or Steam in addition to any other store.
Oh no, I just mean that PC versions of Valve games (Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Left 4 Dead, Dota 2, Portal) are only playable on Steam, even if you buy a physical copy.
Edit: Same goes for EA and Ubisoft. EA games require Origin and Ubisoft games require Uplay
Last edited by PZiggy on 2 Mar 2016 at 7:48 am UTC
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Valve is making games exclusive to their "platform", which is Steam, the same way Microsoft is making games exclusive to their Xbox/Windows storeIf you're referring to the Source 2 engine, to my knowledge, Valve is not saying that games made using that engine cannot be sold outside of Steam; Valve is simply saying that, the Source 2 engine games must be sold in either Steam alone or Steam in addition to any other store.
Oh no, I just mean that PC versions of Valve games (Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Left 4 Dead, Dota 2, Portal) are only playable on Steam, even if you buy a physical copy.
That's because all the games you have listed are all develoved by Valve. But the monopoly practices are to make exclusives to an store for games done by third companies. If Valve makes the game, Valve chooses in which stores must be sold.
In the case of Quantum Break, this game is made by a third company, but Ms has made a deal for that company to only sell the game in their store.
Valve will never say to a third company: "sell the game in steam, and not in another. I will pay you money to be steam exclusive". Valve will never say "this game is only playable in steam os",both things could in fact, be good moves if they want to set their own monopoly. But they won't do.
Last edited by tony1ab on 2 Mar 2016 at 7:57 am UTC
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Armand Raynal 2 Mar 2016
Steam is not free software. Here's the evilness !Steam in these cases is the lesser of two evils
I don't see Steam as evil at all? It's a digital distribution platform - so what? It's even a platform for free software. And like it's said in the article: No exclusivity periods, it's free for the users, it's cross platform, it's proven to be a reliable service, they support Linux.
Where's the evilness?
Why the heck are you using GNU/Linux ?
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Valve is making games exclusive to their "platform", which is Steam, the same way Microsoft is making games exclusive to their Xbox/Windows storeIf you're referring to the Source 2 engine, to my knowledge, Valve is not saying that games made using that engine cannot be sold outside of Steam; Valve is simply saying that, the Source 2 engine games must be sold in either Steam alone or Steam in addition to any other store.
Oh no, I just mean that PC versions of Valve games (Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Left 4 Dead, Dota 2, Portal) are only playable on Steam, even if you buy a physical copy.
That's because all the games you have listed are all develoved by Valve. But the monopoly practices are to make exclusives to an store for games done by third companies. If Valve makes the game, Valve chooses in which stores must be sold.
In the case of Quantum Break, this game is made by a third company, but Ms has made a deal for that company to only sell the game in their store.
Valve will never say to a third company: "sell the game in steam, and not in another. I will pay you money to be steam exclusive". Valve will never say "this game is only playable in steam os",both things could in fact, be good moves if they want to set their own monopoly. But they won't do.
Quantum Break is published by Microsoft. If they start telling others to release their games only on the Windows store, then I think we'll have a major problem. For now it's only Microsoft games that are app store exclusive, not games from other publishers though, for example Rise of the Tomb Raider is available on both Steam and Windows store.
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Homepcgamer 2 Mar 2016
Wrong: you can play the valve games in windows, mac and Linux, even in consoles, and they said thatFact. Valve never going to make a game exclusive for its platform. (steam machines)Valve is making games exclusive to their "platform", which is Steam, the same way Microsoft is making games exclusive to their Xbox/Windows store
Microsoft its making exclusive games for xbox one.
they are not going to make any SteamOS exclusive. A Microsoft Win10 exclusive will be Windows 10 ONLY. Its all about diferent PC OS.
Imagine that Microsoft make the next HALO, Gears of War, and every Microsoft exclusive Xbox AAA a huge success in their win10 store, developers changing slow or fast to their (directX) store and players (those that do not own a Xbox, or Linux&Mac users) changing massively to Win10 to play Xbox exclusive titles. Who then will look to other systems? how much people will change Windows for Mac or Linux? how much players will return or remain in Windows? How long will other developers/editors remain developing for Linux&Mac if the market quote tend to Win10 Store?
You have to look the big picture to see the big problem it is.
A monopoly is probably every company's wet dream, be it Microsoft, Valve or any other. Some things, like always online games, already exist, and yes, it is because of some big companies, but not necessarily Microsoft.Valve arent a innocent sister of course, but they had the opportunity to make a real monopoly but they didn't. If Microsoft have this opportunity they will make it. No doubt.
What I'm trying to say is that while Microsoft seems like the greater evil here, that does not mean Valve and other companies are completely innocent and only want good for you. Every big company cares about profit and if a company is nice to the consumer, it's only because that may be profitable.
I apologize, if I'm defending Microsoft, but it just seems that people talk crap about Microsoft, just because they're Microsoft.
If we(linux users) are where we are now, is because Valve is pushing the game for Linux. It's a fact. If Microsoft have a gaming exclusive success we all will loose. It's my point of view
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Steam is not free software. Here's the evilness !Steam in these cases is the lesser of two evils
I don't see Steam as evil at all? It's a digital distribution platform - so what? It's even a platform for free software. And like it's said in the article: No exclusivity periods, it's free for the users, it's cross platform, it's proven to be a reliable service, they support Linux.
Where's the evilness?
Why the heck are you using GNU/Linux ?
One could like and use linux while also like and use some privative software.
Not all privative companies are evil. You will have to judge them wihouth prejudices and only by their facts.
If a company make a lot of moves to make linux grow by increasing the available games to it, and also make good games discounts putting games at 1.49 dollars (I purchased half life 2 episode 2 for this price in the last sales), then is not evil to me.
Sorry, but in the real world, one could use free software and not share all the principles of the free software. There are middle terms between the extremes....oh my god, If Richard Stallmans hear me is going to kill me.
Last edited by tony1ab on 2 Mar 2016 at 8:11 am UTC
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Wrong: you can play the valve games in windows, mac and Linux, even in consoles, and they said thatFact. Valve never going to make a game exclusive for its platform. (steam machines)Valve is making games exclusive to their "platform", which is Steam, the same way Microsoft is making games exclusive to their Xbox/Windows store
Microsoft its making exclusive games for xbox one.
they are not going to make any SteamOS exclusive. A Microsoft Win10 exclusive will be Windows 10 ONLY. Its all about diferent PC OS.
I think you misunderstood me. I think that for Valve, the OS doesn't matter at all, their platform is Steam, not SteamOS. They don't make any money from consumers using a specific OS, so they don't care, as long as the OS doesn't hinder them. That's why they started encouraging Linux when Microsoft started pushing their apps on Win 8. On the other hand, Microsoft sells Windows and the app store exclusives are just a way to push their OS, they already did something similar with Halo 2 and Windows Vista.
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