Why Steam's Grip on PC Gaming May Never Break

Steam's dominance seems secure for now, meaning developers will likely continue paying the 30% cut and players will keep benefiting from the platform's massive library and community features.

Steam's dominance seems secure for now, meaning developers will likely continue paying the 30% cut and players will keep benefiting from the platform's massive library and community features.

Key points - Former Epic Games engineer Kiaran Ritchie says Steam users won't switch stores even if a better alternative exists. - Ritchie argues the 30% cut developers pay is purely for access to Steam's massive userbase. - Epic CEO Tim Sweeney claims Valve has held gaming back for years. - Newzoo analyst says Steam is unbeatable as long as Valve remains independent and not publicly traded.

Timeline - Last week: Kiaran Ritchie claims a Steam alternative could be vibe-coded in a week, sparking debate. - Following days: Tim Sweeney responds, saying Valve has held gaming back for years. - Later: Ritchie elaborates on the 30% cut and why Steam users won't switch.

FAQ

Q: Why do developers have to use Steam? A: According to Ritchie, developers must distribute through Steam to access its massive userbase or risk losing the vast majority of sales.

Q: Would Steam users switch to a better store? A: Ritchie argues no avid Steam user wants other stores to succeed, even if an alternative were objectively better.

Q: Can Steam be overthrown? A: An analyst told GamesRadar+ that as long as Valve is independent and not publicly traded, Steam is impossible to overthrow as the de-facto PC marketplace.