It’s both of those things. Just like Sony, Xbox, Nintendo, Steam, etc. They take 30% in exchange for exposure, security, and a reliable platform. It’s a trade off. Worth it to some, not to others.
Of those steam is the only one that doesn’t force you to buy software through them on their own hardware. Obviously they would like you to, but you are free to buy elsewhere.
Are you able to buy a game on an xbox without paying a cut to microsoft? Because you can buy a game on steamdeck without giving valve a cut. Though I suspect the vast majority don’t because valve actually work for their cut given the tools they have made to help games run on the hardware even if the game wasn’t built for it.
It’s both of those things. Just like Sony, Xbox, Nintendo, Steam, etc. They take 30% in exchange for exposure, security, and a reliable platform. It’s a trade off. Worth it to some, not to others.
Steam doesn’t belong in that list because you’re free to use whatever game store you want on a PC. No computers are limited to only using Steam.
Not even their own hardware, the steam deck, was in any way closed down. Quite the opposite actually.
And now SteamOS is being used in other platforms, so you can use the software on other hardware vendors if you like
Of those steam is the only one that doesn’t force you to buy software through them on their own hardware. Obviously they would like you to, but you are free to buy elsewhere.
Aren’t all Xbox games on windows now? Either through steam, the Microsoft store, or gamepass?
Are you able to buy a game on an xbox without paying a cut to microsoft? Because you can buy a game on steamdeck without giving valve a cut. Though I suspect the vast majority don’t because valve actually work for their cut given the tools they have made to help games run on the hardware even if the game wasn’t built for it.