this post was submitted on 29 Dec 2024
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We learned just how small Valve really is this year, but also how good it is at raking in the cash: It's making more money per employee than Apple (www.pcgamer.com)
submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

They can sell a direct download as well, the key is merely an option.

If they want to do their own marketing, they can still piggy back off Steam's infrastructure with the only cost being the keys sold directly through Steam.

30% is not insane if it's completely opt in and there are other competitors. Google and Apple charging that much was insane because they completely control the hardware and OS, and as such there was no competition either by policy (e.g. Apple) or scare tactics (Google). Steam only controls the hardware and OS on their Steam Deck, and there's no barriers to installing competitor platforms whatsoever, and they make it easy to play those in the main Steam interface as well (I play EGS and GOG games through Heroic all the time).

The reason people sell through Steam is because Steam provides a better service vs DIY or any of their competitors. Users buy from Steam because it offers a better experience than either directly buying or buying through a competitor. Everyone wins here.

I wish the fee was lower and Valve can certainly afford to take a smaller cut, but they totally make up for that cost in the value they provide. People are willing to stick with Steam even though it doesn't have the most popular games (Minecraft and Fortnite), their competition gives away free games and has exclusives, and they aren't installed by default. Steam doesn't win because they're a monopoly, they win because people prefer their service to the competition.