Comment by faeriechangling
3 years ago
Valve has built up trust over a long long period of time and they can get away with things other businesses cannot.
3 years ago
Valve has built up trust over a long long period of time and they can get away with things other businesses cannot.
Until you said it, I hadn't realized just how big a factor this is. Replace Valve with nearly any other company in this space, and at least one person would have alluded to "Embrace, Extend, Extinguish". Valve built SteamOS and basically monopolized PC gaming (IMO by building a better product) - yet everyone loves them. Even the die-hard FOSS people don't rage about Valve's flaws, because Valve has shown they can strive for perfect and hit good enough along the way.
I'm sure there's history I'm missing, and Valve / Steam undoubtedly has flaws. But while good will can take a long time to build, god has it helped Valve here.
I don't know about market share but they are don't really have the ability to wield their monopoly power to hurt consumers, I'm a casual gamer I must admit but I have games on other stores/launchers. I think the thing people like the most is that people actually have a choice from Windows, the original monopolist
> Valve built SteamOS and basically monopolized PC gaming (IMO by building a better product) - yet everyone loves them.
Not everyone loves them.
You're right - but the tone of the comments section regarding Valve is very different compared to the mixed bag below typically found below articles of other companies.
Everyone may go too far, but the majority seem to hold Valve in higher regard than nearly any other FAANG, Microsoft, and any other PC gaming storefront aside from GOG (from what I've seen).