Valve doesn’t force you to buy games on their platform like Epic does.

You can use GOG and Itch.io instead.

it's isn't really a monopoly, given that there are other companies and platforms, like Epic, Xbox store for windows, GOG...

but practically? yhea, it's a monopoly because the are actually a good product.

Agreed they have a monopoly. But given the modern pattern of digital services always racing to the bottom with enshitification, it’s apparent that we are all very fortunate that the game didtribution market is not an efficient market right now.

Steam would not survive in a competitive market, they’d be outcompeted by loss leaders running on infinite venture capital which would inevitably start turning the screws to draw profit from their captive audience before eventually collapsing and taking all their games with them.

That monopoly is a win for consumers because it is lazy and predictable, it’s a win for game devs because it’s vaguely pleasant to use over a long period which keeps piracy down, and it’s very good for valve, obviously.

Monopoly’s are usually bad when you assume you’re the customer, but with modern services we’re generally the product, a fat and happy monopoly is sometimes better than the alternative.

This comment is only slightly tongue in cheek.

there is some hate here for your comment, but u rite. <3

good to be the king.