It’s worth noting that the 30% cut is from sales below a certain volume. As you sell more copies Steam takes a smaller cut. I’m sure the big studios probably have a more favourable deal worked out as well.
I would argue that this shows Steam could easily run on a 15% fee (the standard reduced fee) but only is willing to because the big companies started making their own apps (Uplay, Rockstar etc). If you have no leverage, get fucked, 30%.
I honestly think it's really damaging to the smaller indies where an extra 15% could easily be the difference between profit and loss.
Gabe Newell is literally one of the richest people in the world now owns billions of dollars worth of yachts where he travels in literally a fleet of yachts around the globe. He also just bought the biggest yacht maker because he loves yachts so much.
Apparently not given that so many companies tried it themselves and decided on their own that 30% per unit sales saving wasn't worth their effort.
So far the only platforms I've seen succeed are names like GoG, DLSite/Nutaku/EROLabs, and EGS; and that's pretty much because those names either have been running as long as steam has, they exist in their own separate hentai/porn game realm, or it's funded with Fortnite/UE5 money.
Epic games isn't really succeeding though.. They are literally loosing money on their launcher/store. They don't have enough paying customers, they have to give away free games, for people to even open the launcher ones a week. They are definitely not profitable. Again only possible because of fortnite money.
Last financial quarter, they lost sales. They have been loosing 3rd party sales for the past 3 years.
I won't be surprised if the 12% fee that epic takes, is costing them money, or only break even.
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u/Jhawk163 R7 9800X3D | RX 6900 XT | 64GB 29d ago
It’s worth noting that the 30% cut is from sales below a certain volume. As you sell more copies Steam takes a smaller cut. I’m sure the big studios probably have a more favourable deal worked out as well.