Baldur’s Gate 3 publishing lead says there’s a reason Steam is so popular: “It’s almost as if it isn’t providing a s**t service”

It’s no secret that in the modern PC gaming landscape, Steam is king. Valve’s digital storefront has become the go-to platform for many developers seeking any sort of success with players. In fact, a recent study from independent firm Atomik Research—published by distribution platform Rokky—revealed that 72% of developers “see Steam as a monopoly.” That description certainly carries a largely negative connotation, and it’s one that Baldur’s Gate 3 publishing lead Michael Douse is eager to push back against.

Taking to Twitter, Douse responded directly to the Atomik Research study, remarking, “It’s almost as if [Steam] isn’t providing a shit service…” Douse further pointed out that Steam isn’t “defined by public shareholder KPIs.” For those unfamiliar, KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator—a business metric often used by shareholders to set benchmarks for success. In some cases, these KPIs can be harmful, establishing unrealistic goals that can incentivize profit over user experience or company stability.

A vivid example of this trend in gaming comes from a recent Bloomberg report, revealing that Microsoft executives have expected its Xbox division to achieve 30% profit margins since 2023. In that same period, Xbox has seen multiple rounds of layoffs, canceled projects, and increased subscription costs for services like Game Pass.

From Douse’s perspective, Steam’s role as primarily a distribution platform—and a good one at that—isn’t comparable to the kind of monopoly implied by the Atomik Research study. Despite the growing presence of low-quality or AI-generated titles crowding Steam’s storefront, it remains one of the most user-friendly places to discover new games.

Douse isn’t alone in questioning the monopoly claim. Veteran analyst and Circana games head Mat Piscatella also appeared skeptical of the study, commenting on Bluesky, “In other words, 72% don’t know what a monopoly is.” Meanwhile, other experts, such as Rokky CEO Vadim Adreev, acknowledge Steam’s influence but put its reach into perspective: “It isn’t the entire world.” Adreev notes that in certain global markets, local platforms will always outperform Steam.

In summary, while Steam undeniably plays a vital—and at times dominant—role in PC gaming, the debate continues over whether it truly qualifies as a monopoly, or simply as an effective and established distribution service.
https://www.gamesradar.com/games/baldurs-gate-3-publishing-lead-says-theres-a-reason-steam-is-so-popular-its-almost-as-if-it-isnt-providing-a-s-t-service/

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