As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming experiences under my belt, I can’t help but feel a sense of amusement at the dance between game developers and digital distribution platforms like Steam and Epic Games Store. Over the years, I’ve witnessed numerous exclusivity deals, platform wars, and predictions about the future of gaming.
In the usual pattern for popular games, Borderlands 4 is set to debut on both Steam and the Epic Games Store for PC users. However, this release stands out in a couple of unique ways. Initially, Borderlands 3 was exclusively available on the Epic Games Store on a time-limited basis. Secondly, Randy Pitchford, a key figure at Gearbox Software, has publicly expressed some firm opinions about Steam on social media platforms five years ago.
Back in April 2019, Pitchford expressed concern that Steam might become obsolete within 5-10 years. This opinion sparked a viral discussion on X, criticizing Pitchford for his forecast, emphasizing that Borderlands 4 would still debut on Steam. In response to this criticism, Pitchford defended himself on social media, suggesting that he could have been correct if Epic Games managed to capitalize on its advantage effectively.
If Epic had fully utilized its lead, it might have altered the situation. However, Epic didn’t. Consequently, Steam maintains its dominant position without making significant efforts to justify the substantial commission they charge, while potential competitors with more developer-friendly business models…
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) August 22, 2024
The leader of Gearbox didn’t just stop at announcing Borderlands 4 for Steam, he also elaborated on his reasons behind this decision (the game is also coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S). “Steam demands a large portion of the profit with minimal effort provided and maintains its dominance in the Western market while potential competitors with more developer-friendly policies keep making mistakes,” Pitchford stated. “As a customer and developer on Steam, I will always advocate for and back competition.”
Besides showing affection for the Steam Deck, he mentioned: “Being both a user and owner of the Steam Deck, I find myself torn between my personal preference and ease, and my hope for a more developer-friendly option on Windows PCs.”
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In 2019, Borderlands 3 first debuted exclusively on the Epic Games Store for PC. Approximately six months later, it also became available on Steam in March 2020. The launch of Borderlands 3 on the Epic Games Store was initially a significant triumph.
It’s worth noting that recently, Tim Sweeney, founder and CEO of Epic Games, disclosed that several exclusivity agreements with game developers haven’t been profitable for the Epic Games Store. He didn’t go into detail, but did mention that their free-games program has generated a higher return on investment for the platform.
At this week’s Gamescom Opening Night Live, I couldn’t contain my excitement as Borderlands 4 was finally unveiled! This highly anticipated looter-shooter is scheduled for release in 2025, and it seems we’ll be facing off against someone even more menacing than the infamous Handsome Jack. Can’t wait to jump back into Pandora with a new, terrifying adversary on the horizon!
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2024-08-22 22:40