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Sunsetting the Bethesda.net launcher and migrating to Steam

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Re: Sunsetting the Bethesda.net launcher and migrating to Steam

#21

Post by mFixman »

TillE wrote: post #5

You can theoretically solve a lot of problems with crappy, multitudinous game stores - easier payments, lighter software. But the real question is: do I trust that I'll be able to continue downloading my purchases for the foreseeable future? I trust that Steam will be around for a very long time. I can download DRM-free installers from GOG. Everyone else? I don't know, I have much less confidence.

Why is a launcher even needed? Isn't it better to provide downloads and payments from their website rather than paying 25% of transactions to Valve?

Re: Sunsetting the Bethesda.net launcher and migrating to Steam

#22

Post by dtech »

TillE wrote: post #5

You can theoretically solve a lot of problems with crappy, multitudinous game stores - easier payments, lighter software. But the real question is: do I trust that I'll be able to continue downloading my purchases for the foreseeable future? I trust that Steam will be around for a very long time. I can download DRM-free installers from GOG. Everyone else? I don't know, I have much less confidence.

Even if Steam will be going away at some point, I bed an archival effort will start similar to what we've seen for Geocities etc.

Re: Sunsetting the Bethesda.net launcher and migrating to Steam

#23

Post by crooked-v »

mFixman wrote: post #21
TillE wrote: post #5

You can theoretically solve a lot of problems with crappy, multitudinous game stores - easier payments, lighter software. But the real question is: do I trust that I'll be able to continue downloading my purchases for the foreseeable future? I trust that Steam will be around for a very long time. I can download DRM-free installers from GOG. Everyone else? I don't know, I have much less confidence.

Why is a launcher even needed? Isn't it better to provide downloads and payments from their website rather than paying 25% of transactions to Valve?

Among other things, Steam Workshop, seamless multiplayer, and automatic cloud syncing are substantial value-adds for many, many games.

Re: Sunsetting the Bethesda.net launcher and migrating to Steam

#24

Post by stingraycharles »

TillE wrote: post #5

You can theoretically solve a lot of problems with crappy, multitudinous game stores - easier payments, lighter software. But the real question is: do I trust that I'll be able to continue downloading my purchases for the foreseeable future? I trust that Steam will be around for a very long time. I can download DRM-free installers from GOG. Everyone else? I don't know, I have much less confidence.

I see this as is something that legislation could fix: digital licenses should be transferable between digital stores.

If I buy a game in store X, and it’s available on store/platform Y, I should be able to play it on both.

Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s the case.

I recently bought a Nintendo Switch, and although I’m happy overall, some games have very heavy limits built in (think: max number of units in games), and they’re also available on PC/steam, but I would have to buy the games twice. I just can’t get over myself to do that, I shouldn’t have to do it. At the very least make the license transferable! :)

Re: Sunsetting the Bethesda.net launcher and migrating to Steam

#25

Post by duskwuff »

kgwxd wrote: post #7
kevingadd wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Players have spoken and a LOT of them prefer Steam.

Players should be saying they don't want "launchers" at all. They provide no benefit that couldn't be done a better way.

> They provide no benefit that couldn't be done a better way.

Centralized software install/update, with a good CDN behind it, is a pretty huge advantage. Even if you don't care about any of the other features of the Steam launcher, that one alone is worth it. Having every publisher run their own download servers means they're much more subject to getting overloaded under heavy demand, or becoming permanently unavailable if the publisher goes out of business.

Re: Sunsetting the Bethesda.net launcher and migrating to Steam

#26

Post by Ekaros »

kgwxd wrote: post #7
kevingadd wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Players have spoken and a LOT of them prefer Steam.

Players should be saying they don't want "launchers" at all. They provide no benefit that couldn't be done a better way.

Nah, that is like using Linux without package manager. Sure you can do that, but manual work is considerable.

And generally I think Steam staying alive is much more likely than random places serving stuff. Even if it were DRM free. Just looking at history quite many services have come and gone on PC.

Re: Sunsetting the Bethesda.net launcher and migrating to Steam

#28

Post by Ekaros »

mFixman wrote: post #21
TillE wrote: post #5

You can theoretically solve a lot of problems with crappy, multitudinous game stores - easier payments, lighter software. But the real question is: do I trust that I'll be able to continue downloading my purchases for the foreseeable future? I trust that Steam will be around for a very long time. I can download DRM-free installers from GOG. Everyone else? I don't know, I have much less confidence.

Why is a launcher even needed? Isn't it better to provide downloads and payments from their website rather than paying 25% of transactions to Valve?

Why is package manager needed on Linux? Isn't it better to download everything as source code and compile yourself?

Re: Sunsetting the Bethesda.net launcher and migrating to Steam

#29

Post by dtech »

kgwxd wrote: post #7
kevingadd wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Players have spoken and a LOT of them prefer Steam.

Players should be saying they don't want "launchers" at all. They provide no benefit that couldn't be done a better way.

A central place where you can always could download your purchased games, saves and mods and automatically installs patches is an enormous benefit.

Re: Sunsetting the Bethesda.net launcher and migrating to Steam

#30

Post by NullPrefix »

Ekaros wrote: post #28
mFixman wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is a launcher even needed? Isn't it better to provide downloads and payments from their website rather than paying 25% of transactions to Valve?

Why is package manager needed on Linux? Isn't it better to download everything as source code and compile yourself?

My package manager allows me to see the URL to download it and compile it manually. Does Steam/Bethesda/other game launcher allows this?
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