Epic Games Store - 88% split goes to devs

[legowarrior]

I laughed. And I also cringed a little.

I will take it. Although, maybe I should have reversed Steam and Epic? Or better yet, used GoG, and made both Steam and Epic the heretics!

Hindsight is 20/20, they say.

[legowarrior]

To claim that “it hasn’t happened yet and that there is no indication it will ever happen” which is what I commented on, however, makes no sense.

Ok, fair enough. I didn’t realize you were commenting purely from that perspective. It seems kind of like muddying the waters, when the bulk of the discussion was about an alleged policy actually existing rather than it being theoretically possible.

Sure, anything could happen. Epic might start demanding human sacrifice as part of their contractual terms.

Oh, like some kind of Aztec Ceremony? Would that make Steam the Catholic Church?

Man, that analogy would not be pretty. Human sacrifice, but also disease, famine, enslavement. Yeah, let’s not go that route.

[strategy]

And that’s my cue to back away slowly…

;)

[peterb]

I’m very much in favor of moving the “Epic sucks! Epic is the Antichrist” and “Epic rocks!” “Epic is the Second Coming!” arguments to P+R and keep this thread for conversations that are not completely dumb.

[legowarrior]

I have to disagree. Even the most controversial parts of this conversation doesn’t really fit as either religion or politics (unless you use a very broad definition of either).

Besides, P+R is a pretty chill place these days. I would rather keep it that way. It’s a hidden Oasis of Calm away on this forum.

[DaveLong]

It’s a thread about purchasing videogames. It belongs in the Games topic.

[Rock8man]

Besides, P+R is a pretty chill place these days. I would rather keep it that way. It’s a hidden Oasis of Calm away on this forum.

Shhhhhh. Don’t tell people that. We don’t want the games people infecting P&R.

Legowarrior is just kidding everyone. P&R is a cesspool. Don’t go in there y’all. For your own safety.

[legowarrior]

Besides, P+R is a pretty chill place these days. I would rather keep it that way. It’s a hidden Oasis of Calm away on this forum.

Shhhhhh. Don’t tell people that. We don’t want the games people infecting P&R.

Legowarrior is just kidding everyone. P&R is a cesspool. Don’t go in there y’all. For your own safety.

Shit, yeah, you know me. Just bad cringy jokes. Hahahaha. It’s all a big joke.

Just move along. Nothing to see in P+R.

[Perky_Goth]

Best not to ask when the reformation is coming, then.

[AK_Icebear]

I don’t take any this very seriously. After all, we are talking about two large global corporations.

(Checks post count) Right, sure, don’t care at all, great argument.

[legowarrior]

I did not say I didn’t care. I just don’t take it very seriously.

There is a difference.

[Matt_W]

Abzu and Ed McMillen’s The End is Nigh are free this week on the Epic Store. I’m glad to get a chance to try TEiN without buying it, and I really enjoyed my relaxing time with Abzu when I got it through PS+.

[Matt_W]

Image from the GOG store:

Note that despite capturing 100% of the profits, CD Projekt has not lowered the price on their own storefront. Video game prices are not principally driven by supply and demand.

[legowarrior]

Why should the charge less?
I have three hypothesis why I don’t believe we will see reduced prices of AAA games right away.

1. There really is an agreement that says you cant charge less for a product then the Steam price (yeah, I haven’t seen any evidence either, at least when it doesn’t relate to Steam Keys).

2. There is no competition (yet) to reduce the prices further because most competitors are tied up in the tradition steam model that costs them 30% of their revenue, and can’t afford to cut prices. I think that will be the case until more companies are primarily selling their games through less expansive platforms. Until that time, companies that could sell for less won’t because their is no incentive to do so.

3). The overhead cost of their store is quite high because they don’t benefit from the economics of scale, like Epic can. So, the costs are comparable to that of Steam.

I think the my 2nd hypothesis is likely true, based on what I know about how market forces work. You don’t just cut prices because you can, unless doing so nets you more market share.

By the way, I know we are all focused on AAA games here, but I personally think we will see the market pressures hit some studios and indie games first.

[KevinC]

[KevinC]

There’s a much simpler explanation. Companies will charge whatever the market will bear for a game. If they can save on costs or increase their revenue split from distributors that’s fantastic news for the company but it has absolutely no bearing on what they will charge for a game. It will still be at the highest price point that the market will bear. Right now that price point is $60 for base versions AAA games.

[legowarrior]

I think the market prices is impact by the revenue split.

And as well already saw with Metro, some developers are trying a lower price point.

[KevinC]

I think Metro was an outlier due to the shitstorm they faced over pulling the game from Steam after accepting so many pre-orders on that storefront. It was a PR move to try to tamp down on the inferno online.

[legowarrior]

And I think Metro is first to realize it can steal market shares by reducing costs to consumers.

[lordkosc]

There really is an agreement that says you cant charge less for a product then the Steam price (yeah, I haven’t seen any evidence either, at least when it doesn’t relate to Steam Keys).

When Metro Exodus returns to Steam early next year, we will find out! Will it show up for the $49.99 price it has been listed for on the EGS ?