A move that isn't entirely surprising due to how limited it was, Valve is moving back to focus on gaming more than anything else with non-gaming videos being retired.
From the news post:
For the past few years, we have worked on expanding Steam beyond games and software by building a video platform that supports paid and free video content. In reviewing what Steam users actually watch, it became clear we should focus our effort on offering content that is either directly related to gaming or, is accessory content for games or software sold on Steam.
As part of this refocus, we have retired the Video section of the Steam Store menu with an expectation that video content is discovered via the associated game or software store page, or through search, user tags, recommendations, etc.
Over the coming weeks a number of non-gaming videos will be retired and will no longer be available for purchase. Previously purchased content will remain available to owners.
Why is it not surprising? Well, it makes sense for multiple reasons. Did you ever buy and watch any movies (or other non-gaming videos) on Steam? I didn't, it's far easier to use a different service like Netflix, Google Play or practically any other where you could watch your content across pretty much any device and browser.
On top of that, Valve's bread and butter is gaming and since they now have more competition actually focusing on that is obvious at this point.
The dedicated Videos link on Steam has already been removed.
Quoting: Guestso now a gaming store should start removing games?
Quoting: GuestVery nice, less crap to clutter the store. Maybe visual novels can be next? :P
"games".
Not to mention that according to analysts the competition in the video streaming market is going to be super ugly later this year, with no restraint of anti consumer practices. Unless you are already a big player there its better to opt out entirely since it's pretty obvious that in the end it will be the pirate bay to emerge victorious there (which actually sucks since Netflix has been so convenient until now).
Quoting: NezchanOnly video I watched on Steam was Kung Fury, and that was free.It's also brilliant beyond description! (and Swedish <3)
Good move Valve, now where is that third game...
I bought Conman through Steam, otherwise yeah never bothered with their other videos.
Quoting: slaapliedjeThey don't need to sell video content to get the living room feeling, just have some netflix/amazon prime/etc 'apps' in SteamOS/Big picture mode.
I bought Conman through Steam, otherwise yeah never bothered with their other videos.
I suspect this is a (or another) reason that Steam devices didn't really take off. Playstation and Xbox both allow Netflix, Spotify and others on their consoles. Why would you buy a SteamPC that doesn't support any of that. Pretty ridiculous.
I feared at one point that Valve deliberately ignored having Netflix/Amazon/etc apps available on their SteamOS/Steam Machines because they tried to push their own movie store.
But now that's out the way...
Quoting: scaineThat was one of my long-standing complaints about the whole thing, everyone I know with a console also use it for streaming video services.Quoting: slaapliedjeThey don't need to sell video content to get the living room feeling, just have some netflix/amazon prime/etc 'apps' in SteamOS/Big picture mode.
I bought Conman through Steam, otherwise yeah never bothered with their other videos.
I suspect this is a (or another) reason that Steam devices didn't really take off. Playstation and Xbox both allow Netflix, Spotify and others on their consoles. Why would you buy a SteamPC that doesn't support any of that. Pretty ridiculous.
The day will come.
Mark my words. They'll try some more attempts to push Linux that will fail like the attempts before.
Not least because big part of the game-related media is inherently anti Linux.
And you need those guys!
At some point Valve will give up.
Yes, I hope I'm totally wrong.
Last edited by sub on 20 February 2019 at 6:42 pm UTC
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