It would be fine IF iOS allowed other app stores to compete with their own. This is why it’s fine when steam does it, because the game developers can always go to GOG or Epic or itch if they want
I don’t think that’s a fair categorisations. I believe that is only for selling steam keys elsewhere.
Steam allows publishers to generate steam keys for their games at no cost. The publisher can then sell those keys elsewhere. The only requirement is the keys not be sold for less than the price charged on steam. ie if the publisher can sell the key on any other platform and valve gets $0.
Expecting valve to distribute your game and provide access to their steam works features for free while allowing a publisher to undercut them would be insanity.
Steam Keys are single-use, unique, alphanumeric codes that customers can activate on Steam to add a product license to their account. Steam Keys are a free service we provide to developers as a convenient tool to help you sell your game on other stores and at retail, or provide for free for beta testers or press/influencers. Steam keys are a free service, so we ask you to use good judgment and follow basic guidelines and rules around requesting and selling them.
You cannot generate Steam codes and sell them on alternative storefronts for less than you would sell them for on Steam for a similar length of time.
There is absolutely no rule saying that you cannot sell your game on alternative store fronts for less. There isn’t even a rule saying that you can’t sell Steam keys on alternative store fronts for less than you are currently selling them of Steam. Just not always selling Steam keys on alternative store fronts without at least sometimes selling them for that price on Steam.
It has always been highway robbery. Yes, even Steam. Look at how desperate Microsoft was to copy it on their platform that was successful because it’s more open (than Apple).
The EU introduce the Digital Markets Act that is supposed to force Malus and Gogle to open up their ecosystem. Gogle is fairly open but for some reason another app store hasn’t made it big. Malus is just locked down as hell but now has AltStore in the EU.
Malus does however not abide completely by the DMA. Someone mentioned “notarisation” to me recently: they still have to approve apps on alternative stores, which the EU isn’t happy about. No one knows how long it’ll take for the EU to force Malus to play by the rules and get rid of notarisation though. Maybe with how the US is acting, it could speed that up, but my bet is on 2026.
Gogle is fairly open but for some reason another app store hasn’t made it big
Samsung has their own app store which I presume does reasonably well in their ecosystem, and Amazon maintains their own app store for Kindle. F-Droid is also reasonably popular with the open source and privacy focused crowd.
Samsung has their own ecosystem and their appstore is installed by default (power of defaults). Amazon is actually shutting down their appstore, so much for popularity.
Do you know any other app store that normal people actually install on their phone to get paid apps?
30%. That’s robbery, it should be illegal.
It would be fine IF iOS allowed other app stores to compete with their own. This is why it’s fine when steam does it, because the game developers can always go to GOG or Epic or itch if they want
Steam has the biggest reach and has a Most Favored Nation policy. If you offer your product cheaper anywhere else, you’ll be exiled from Steam.
It’s required. And they’ll charge whatever the fuck they want and you’ll pay it. Otherwise, you’re never selling your game outside of your family.
I don’t think that’s a fair categorisations. I believe that is only for selling steam keys elsewhere.
Steam allows publishers to generate steam keys for their games at no cost. The publisher can then sell those keys elsewhere. The only requirement is the keys not be sold for less than the price charged on steam. ie if the publisher can sell the key on any other platform and valve gets $0.
Expecting valve to distribute your game and provide access to their steam works features for free while allowing a publisher to undercut them would be insanity.
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/keys
I was speaking of selling. Nothing to do with steam keys.
Yes, we know.
And you are wrong.
This is completely incorrect.
The rule is that
There is absolutely no rule saying that you cannot sell your game on alternative store fronts for less. There isn’t even a rule saying that you can’t sell Steam keys on alternative store fronts for less than you are currently selling them of Steam. Just not always selling Steam keys on alternative store fronts without at least sometimes selling them for that price on Steam.
There’s a effective rule. It’s not written, because it could lead to legal trouble, but they’ll enforce it anyway.
https://www.lawinc.com/valve-steam-antitrust-lawsuit-pc-gaming
That PR site is NOT what is actually being sued.
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/04/humble-bundle-creator-brings-antitrust-lawsuit-against-valve-over-steam/
The actual suit complains that you can’t resell keys for less.
As part of a larger suit.
deleted by creator
But 30% is standard.
It has always been highway robbery. Yes, even Steam. Look at how desperate Microsoft was to copy it on their platform that was successful because it’s more open (than Apple).
Class action lawsuit against Steam’s 30%.
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.wawd.298754/gov.uscourts.wawd.298754.1.0_1.pdf
The EU introduce the Digital Markets Act that is supposed to force Malus and Gogle to open up their ecosystem. Gogle is fairly open but for some reason another app store hasn’t made it big. Malus is just locked down as hell but now has AltStore in the EU.
Malus does however not abide completely by the DMA. Someone mentioned “notarisation” to me recently: they still have to approve apps on alternative stores, which the EU isn’t happy about. No one knows how long it’ll take for the EU to force Malus to play by the rules and get rid of notarisation though. Maybe with how the US is acting, it could speed that up, but my bet is on 2026.
Malus?
Latin word for apple tree, also means bad or evil. I think it should be malum (apple) instead, which also means bad or evil.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malus
Why though?
It’s like saying Crapple or Micro$oft, but pretentious, I guess.
Think a little. I know you can get it.
Ok loser.
Samsung has their own app store which I presume does reasonably well in their ecosystem, and Amazon maintains their own app store for Kindle. F-Droid is also reasonably popular with the open source and privacy focused crowd.
Samsung has their own ecosystem and their appstore is installed by default (power of defaults). Amazon is actually shutting down their appstore, so much for popularity.
Do you know any other app store that normal people actually install on their phone to get paid apps?