Comment by eloisant
2 hours ago
> Publishers have an option to use other distributors but choose not to
They can choose to sell in the store where all users are, or in the store nobody goes.
2 hours ago
> Publishers have an option to use other distributors but choose not to
They can choose to sell in the store where all users are, or in the store nobody goes.
Correct, but that means that publishers are choosing to distribute via Steam, despite the existence of other options, because Steam's superior features, user base, etc. justify paying that premium. They could distribute on Epic games, or even self-distribute like how Blizzard does, but they choose Steam.
It's not analogous to iOS that has no other options for distribution.