I read this as banning something like lutris and was very confused.
If they did ban launchers most the big companies would not do what you want and just not release on steam.
this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2025
298 points (100.0% liked)
PC Master Race
16193 readers
4 users here now
A community for PC Master Race.
Rules:
- No bigotry: Including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or xenophobia. Code of Conduct.
- Be respectful. Everyone should feel welcome here.
- No NSFW content.
- No Ads / Spamming.
- Be thoughtful and helpful: even with ‘stupid’ questions. The world won’t be made better or worse by snarky comments schooling naive newcomers on Lemmy.
Notes:
- PCMR Community Name - Our Response and the Survey
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Disagree. Most big companies have tried the way of not releasing on Steam, and almost everyone came back over the years because they realized a lot more people buy your game if it's on Steam.
But they came back with the launchers.. I think less would have come back if they couldn't also install launchers.
A lot of companies would but big games that are going to sell just on the name like GTA would be fine without steam. Multiplayer features and APIs are all built into the launchers, I don't see them rewriting huge chunks to remove it so steam can take a cut of the sale.
Nope. People use steam. Remember when insane hatred was poured for years over epic because they dared to have exclusive deals? The megacorps conform to people when they have to
Epic games has most their games as exclusive on the epic store ?
Oh well. I believe Ubisoft or EA tried doing that, and they came crawling back after a while.
If they did ban launchers most the big companies would not do what you want and just not release on steam.
Good! Releasing it in Steam should mean releasing it on Steam, and not releasing what's tantamount to a shortcut to another launcher.
A steam frontpage without ubisoft and ea would be heaven.
Not at all, they would bake the tracking and updating and login logic into the game itself rather than slash most of their income for some random grandstand.
At least give GOG a try
GOG is the GOAT, but this meme misses the mark.
it's not a wrong meme but valve is ok to do this because the device, like many consoles, is a loss leader.
however, try to even find the Linux desktop mode on a ps5/xbox... in this way we're still treated above and beyond what's industry standard.
microsoft, on the other hand, has overstayed their welcome so often and so obnoxiously, people just don't want any of their shit
It's been a minute since I set up my steam deck, is it not possible to get into desktop mode without signing into a steam account?
You can use Desktop Mode without a steam account.
This meme is just dumb and contrarian. They're comparing an OS to a games distribution platform that requires user accounts to function.
You wouldn't be able to play any games then lmao. No CDPR games. Rockstar, blizzard, EA, ubi, Sony. Microsoft. Korean games. Most MMOs.
I'm pretty sure the logic intended is that they'd remove their launchers to stay on steam
You're rockstar. Are you going to give up on all steam sales for all your games, or your shitty launcher?
I don't even use steam dude lol.
FitGirl has no launchers whatsoever, if you're into single player games.
Steam is a third party launcher.
Exactly, we're already on one, we don't need third party launchers being launched by the third party launcher lmao
Yo dawg
Why do you want to ban third party launchers? Wouldn't having more control over your launcher by having access to third party launchers be a benefit? I'm confused, I don't know what this is.
When I launch a game from steam I would like it to launch from steam. Not launch a launcher which then launches the game. Why would I ever want to launch a launcher to launch my game when I'm doing it from steam. If I want choice so bad I'll go and buy it from the 2nd launcher. But I didn't. I bought it from steam. Cause I want steam to launch my game.
OOOH!! I see what you mean!
I thought you were talking about like... Using a different Steam launcher to browse and launch everything. I don't know, I'm not a big gamer...
Thanks for clarifying!
(☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞
What if I wanna use a third party launcher to launch Steam games that themselves need a further third party launcher?