Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney Calls For Unified Digital Games Store

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

There are other ways besides piracy, it's promotion is not on here either.
I feel similar about DRM.

I just don't buy.

I just don't play.

Life goes on yet I committed no crime, just stood my ethical ground.

As for Sweeny's. Latest market grab attempt F him , he's not out for my best interest but his own.

 

[bug]

His idea of shared ownership across multiple devices is the first consumer friendly comment I have read he said.

However as others pointed out his fairy tale scenario has Epic running this store as a monopoly.

I believe Microsoft are already adopting multi platform for Windows/Xbox.
Steam already do for Windows/Linux.

Not sure what Sony are doing, they tend to be more anti consumer though so wouldnt be surprised if they keep to separate licenses.

We unlikely to see a shared ownership under competing consoles.

The thing is, uniting stores does next to nothing for the consumer. I mean, really, I buy a game on Steam an launch it with the Epic launcher? I buy it from EA and get it patched by GOG Galaxy? That's nothing.

There are two things I'd be interested in: making do with only one client app and being able to buy once, play everywhere (be it a console or PC). Stores could come up with some federation API to address the former, but they'll never deliver the latter.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I disagree.

Good ol' Games.

GoG

Change my mind.

Good Old Games was the preivious name of the platform. However their current platform name is " GOG ".

Haven't heard that name in quite a while, probably half a decade since I last tried to visit.

Then you've missed out on the best digital game store on the planet. I invite you to pay a visit and remind yourself of the bliss of DRM-Free gaming.

 

[95Viper]

Stay on topic.
Stop insulting others.
Stop the piracy posting.

Thank You.

 

[silentbogo]

Not sure what Sony are doing, they tend to be more anti consumer though so wouldnt be surprised if they keep to separate licenses.

I think the whole idea was conceived jointly with Sony. There were few dead giveaways, like releasing formerly PS-exclusive titles on Epic out of the blue, and pumping a hefty $200M investment into EGS.
Streaming(cloud gaming) didn't work for either Sony or Microsoft, but GamePass worked and Sony had no answer for it. Won't be surprised if this whole thing will end up as subscription service.

 

[Vayra86]

Who would house the platform?
How would that company get money to support that 1 platform?
How much money would it need to support that 1 platform?
How would that platform be regulated and who would regulate it?
Who would police and be able to hold companies accountable that try to launch their own platform over joining this one?

Simple. You create a single entity where everyone plays ball for a % of share.
You create a system that weighs % of share and a visibility rating on the store, so every publishers has a string of featured items they can push on the frontpage for example. Big money can pop up first, visibility can be measured over time and dynamically readjusted based on user habits.
You will need far less money than reinventing all the wheels involved (GDPR, authentication, license registration, account management, servers) for every separate platform if you are abstracting that into messaging systems between all platforms.
If you really wanted to, you could even have in-framed Steam, EGS, etc. Stores, so everyone can have their illusion of control.

I always think of a very simple example... the London Oyster card. This whole idea isn't new, it just requires people sticking their heads together.

 

[chrcoluk]

The thing is, uniting stores does next to nothing for the consumer. I mean, really, I buy a game on Steam an launch it with the Epic launcher? I buy it from EA and get it patched by GOG Galaxy? That's nothing.

There are two things I'd be interested in: making do with only one client app and being able to buy once, play everywhere (be it a console or PC). Stores could come up with some federation API to address the former, but they'll never deliver the latter.

Well yeah first consider I didn't say uniting stores, I said uniting platforms.

You buy a game on PC, then can play it on PS5, Xbox etc. without buying it again, that's consumer friendly.

 

[bug]

Well yeah first consider I didn't say uniting stores, I said uniting platforms.

You buy a game on PC, then can play it on PS5, Xbox etc. without buying it again, that's consumer friendly.

True. I was commenting Tim's proposition.

 

[silentbogo]

Sure, if you don't care about your privacy. But if you do, it's a shitshow everywhere but GOG.

A bit ironic that your response also has a counterargument in it. Concerned about privacy - here's your option on a silver plate. 21st century. Good times.
What's also funny, is that GOG Galaxy is 100 times more functional than EGS, even though its barely used by GOG users.

Because I don't want Steam or Origin using 10% of my cpu and making my game performance worse. Yes it happens even on 16t cpus, that has been tested. Quake Champions, for example, has a 15% performance Hit by running with steam compared with self launcher you get from bethesda

That's another load of BS that I've missed.
1. The only launcher that had such issues is EGS. Right now I'm running Steam in the background, along with several messengers and even Nicehash, and my CPU usage sits comfortably at 1% (R7 3800X). Steam itself barely ever gets above 0.1% even when it's active.
2. Been playing since close beta up until they've decided to shrink the server base, and never heard of any issues on steam, especially that dramatic. I know in early versions there were stability issues with Steam overlay, but it can(and should) be disabled. AFAIK 99.9% of performance issues in QC are quake-related, not Steam-related.

 

[silentbogo]

I sent you my ip address

Either not, or mods disagree with my enthusiasm.

Good luck, I use computers since the 90s.

You won't believe how many times I've heard those exact words.

 

[Ahhzz]

Excuse me, Gentlepeople. This is not a playground. This is not a hacking convention. This is not a pissing competition. Find the original topic, or receive points.

 

[lexluthermiester]

What's also funny, is that GOG Galaxy is 100 times more functional than EGS

This is true. I've tried it out. Not really a fan, but I like it better than the Steam or Epic client.

even though its barely used by GOG users.

There are a fair number of GOG users that install the Galaxy client, but it's certainly less than the 100% required by Steam or Epic.

Excuse me, Gentlepeople. This is not a playground. This is not a hacking convention. This is not a pissing competition. Find the original topic, or receive points.

Sorry about that, didn't see your comment until I'd already posted mine...

 

[pipiteam]

I think what he meant is a store where if you buy a title, you can play it on xbox/pc/ps5 etc. Right now its too messy and he is right.

 

[chrcoluk]

Price of FF7 remake , this is with the larger developer share, so as usual no savings passed on.

I wonder what the sales will be like as I think FF7 remake is quite possibly the biggest test for this store, as I understand it Kingdom Hearts sales are really bad.

 

[LifeOnMars]

Before he starts spouting all this good soul rhetoric maybe he should think about addressing the numerous shortcomings the Epic store displays. It's a pathetic sham of an experience from a company that is basically printing out money at the moment. All that money for exclusives and a storefront/user experience that sucks the big one. There are various reasons why people still remain Steam loyal, one of them being the user experience is fantastic. Regular updates and innovations, accessible community discussion and groups etc etc I could go on and on.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Before he starts spouting all this good soul rhetoric maybe he should think about addressing the numerous shortcomings the Epic store displays. It's a pathetic sham of an experience from a company that is basically printing out money at the moment. All that money for exclusives and a storefront/user experience that sucks the big one. There are various reasons why people still remain Steam loyal, one of them being the user experience is fantastic. Regular updates and innovations, accessible community discussion and groups etc etc I could go on and on.

Oh can we please not start this nonsense? Steam has MORE than it's fair share of problems. So let that go...

 

[LifeOnMars]

Oh can we please not start this nonsense? Steam has MORE than it's fair share of problems. So let that go...

Not nonsense, fact. Also, if I want to state my opinion in a relevant thread I will, so let it go.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Not nonsense, opinion.

Fixed that for you.

Also, if I want to state my opinion in a relevant thread I will

Now see, there you go.

so let it go.

Aww, that was cute.

Do you have anything constructive to add or did you join in just to rag on Epic?

 

[LifeOnMars]

Fixed that for you.

Now see, there you go.

Aww, that was cute.

Do you have anything constructive to add or did you join in just to rag on Epic?

I'm sorry you can't handle an alternative opinion. I made my point loud and clear and you missed it.

 

[Ahhzz]

Petty squabbling should stop. Present your most heartfelt, ardently held opinion as opinion, present facts with verifiable data, and communicate as adults, or leave the room.