13 votes

Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human are coming to PC, leading next wave of Epic Games Store exclusives

10 comments

  1. Weldawadyathink
    Link
    I don't think this is terrible. PC gamers have long said that the exclusive war on consoles was bad for consumers. I have not changedy mind on that. But these exclusives are not locked behind any...

    I don't think this is terrible. PC gamers have long said that the exclusive war on consoles was bad for consumers. I have not changedy mind on that. But these exclusives are not locked behind any paywall, such as a console purchase. They are simply a software download away. PC gaming has long been a steam almost-monopoly, with only a few standouts like gog and humble bundle (which is itself a steam key reseller for the most part). I hope epic is only using these tactics to get a foothold in the market, but even if they start doing very anti-consumer things later on, there is no barrier to entry for another platform.

    4 votes
  2. [6]
    Deimos
    Link
    Ars also posted a small interview with Tim Sweeney about the Epic Store, including that he expects prices to start being lower on Epic than Steam because of the lower platform cut:...

    Ars also posted a small interview with Tim Sweeney about the Epic Store, including that he expects prices to start being lower on Epic than Steam because of the lower platform cut: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/03/epic-ceo-youre-going-to-see-lower-prices-on-epic-games-store/

    3 votes
    1. [5]
      undu
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Just to make sure: Tim is lying through his teeth. Valve's model allows games to have much lower prices that Epic's model. Valve allows devs to generate keys which cam be sold at any price: Valve...

      he expects prices to start being lower on Epic than Steam because of the lower platform cut

      Just to make sure: Tim is lying through his teeth.
      Valve's model allows games to have much lower prices that Epic's model.
      Valve allows devs to generate keys which cam be sold at any price: Valve takes a 0% cut of the copies sold this way.

      This is why there are a lot of stores selling Steam keys at much lower prices than Steam itself. an example

      Valve has tried to keep the PC platform as open as possible, Epic is here to grab exclusives a the same time that they provide non of the features from competing clients (not even cloud saves), the consumer will be much worse for it.

      There is also another problem for developers getting compensated for the exclusivity, it's not a sustainable model.
      Right now Epic guarantees the studios a minimum amount of revenue, regardless of copies sold, this is good on the short them because they can keep providing updates for the games and even start developing new games. On the long run, however, if they are not able to sell well (they all knew that the epic deal would garner them a lot of negative opinions), they will have a much tougher chance to convince investors to put their money on the studio, since they will not have number to back up that they can provide a good investment return.

      In my opinion Epic is trying its damnest to get a stronghold in the PC market by willingly damage it, sot they get an even bigger piece of pie, and this worries me.

      7 votes
      1. [2]
        vili
        Link Parent
        Maybe I don't understand the full picture, but it seems to me that Epic will be having the same arrangement.

        Just to make sure: Tim is lying through his teeth.
        Valve's model allows games to have much lower prices that Epic's model.
        Valve allows devs to generate keys which cam be sold at any price: Valve takes a 0% cut of the copies sold this way.

        Maybe I don't understand the full picture, but it seems to me that Epic will be having the same arrangement.

        2 votes
        1. undu
          Link Parent
          Eventually and with enough pressure, maybe. For now it's limited to a single store: Epic does not give developers the same freedom as Valve gives them and why would they? Epic has paid for their...

          Eventually and with enough pressure, maybe.

          For now it's limited to a single store: Epic does not give developers the same freedom as Valve gives them and why would they? Epic has paid for their freedom.

          4 votes
      2. [2]
        who
        Link Parent
        So then, how does Epic's mere 12% cut factor in to this whole thing? The way I understood it, both Steam and Epic give devs a portion of each copy sold, rather than getting a lump sum pre-release....

        So then, how does Epic's mere 12% cut factor in to this whole thing? The way I understood it, both Steam and Epic give devs a portion of each copy sold, rather than getting a lump sum pre-release. I thought that was why devs were considering exclusives, rather than instant gratification. Or is the flat rate specifically for exclusives?

        1 vote
        1. undu
          Link Parent
          It's instant gratification: https://www.thegamer.com/epic-store-2-million-sales-exchange-exclusivity/ Other developers have come out stating that the amount of money given by Epic would keep the...

          It's instant gratification: https://www.thegamer.com/epic-store-2-million-sales-exchange-exclusivity/

          Other developers have come out stating that the amount of money given by Epic would keep the afloat for a couple years.

          Epic are spending an enormous amount of money buying timed exclusives.

          We'll see how they convert players pkaying fortnite, a free game, to paying customers for the rest of games in their store.

          Valve made a lot of effort to bring up conversion numbers from free 2 play games like dota 2 and team fortress 2 by giving free in-game items for these two game when people bought games in their store. I have not seen anything alike being kicked off by Epic.

          5 votes
  3. [3]
    Bal
    Link
    Day by day I am losing my faith in PC gaming.

    Day by day I am losing my faith in PC gaming.

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      Fin
      Link Parent
      ps4 had some incredible exclusives last year

      ps4 had some incredible exclusives last year

      1. Bal
        Link Parent
        Indeed it did, but somehow I never feel comfortable playing games with a controller, so I don't really have the option of switching to it.

        Indeed it did, but somehow I never feel comfortable playing games with a controller, so I don't really have the option of switching to it.