Consoles are just loss leaders for software now. Hot take: this is true of the Steam Deck and Machine as well. Yes you can play games from other vendors, but PC gamers are very loyal to Steam and many will never bother. I imagine at least half of steam deck users just use it like a console, not like a PC.

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csullivannet 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I don't see a reason not to be loyal to Steam. I probably spend just as much if not more than console gamers but in return I get so much more value.

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culi 4 hours ago | parent [-]

It's pretty good as a consumer but they take a massive cut out for developers. I'm not crying about EA not getting its profit margins, but the cut Steam takes can really hurt indie devs.

I try to buy from itch.io whenever its an option.

	▲	jsheard 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> I'm not crying about EA not getting its profit margins, but the cut Steam takes can really hurt indie devs. Indies actually lose more of their margin than EA does, because Steam reduces their 30% cut to 25% after $10m in sales and 20% after $50m in sales. Few indies are doing those numbers, so it's functionally a discount for AAA publishers to discourage them from leaving for their own launchers again (EA did leave back when it was a flat 30% rate for everyone).

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m463 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Consoles are just loss leaders for software now.

Maybe software is just a link in the chain to subscriptions.

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aussieguy1234 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I guess to get their stores on the platform, Epic Games etc will need to create officially supported Linux stores.

	▲	entropicdrifter 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Or endorse Heroic, which works better than their launcher anyhow, even on Windows