No, it only refers to Steam keys. You can't sell *Steam keys* for cheaper on other stores. The game itself can be sold for whatever the publisher wants. Publishers don't want to devalue their game, so they won't make it cheaper elsewhere.
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If Valve had such a policy for game prices in general *and publishers agreed*, that would be the definition of a cartel. Valve et al could be pursued for antitrust violations. Just like successfully coercing competitors to adopt a lower distribution fee through back room bribes.
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Replying to @Mortiel @PleaseCapcom and
Valve was bleeding AAA publishers before Epic Store existed you know, they only started giving AAA publishers a better cut after they started to feel the pain of not getting their games.
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Replying to @Pkeod @PleaseCapcom and
"Bleeding AAA publishers" Yes, because AAA publishers are in financial dire straights, obviously. Might want to look at some financial figures occasionally. AAA publishers were merely wanting any means to lower costs to improve profit margins. Not to benefit consumers.pic.twitter.com/oJGe58aGPW
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Replying to @Mortiel @PleaseCapcom and
The Steam platform relies on big AAA publishers putting their games on Steam. It is not a sustainable platform without it. Why exactly does giving every game to Steam to distribute inherently benefit customers? I think you mean benefit Steam users who never want to leave Steam.
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Replying to @Pkeod @PleaseCapcom and
Read what I said carefully: I said publishers cut costs to increase profit margins, not to benefit consumers. I said nothing about where a game is sold.
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This is the core economic fallacy in the r/fuckepic contingent: this idea that stores may as well charge 30% because if stores lowered their taxes, the profits will just go to greedy middlemen and not developers. This position essentially rejects free market economics.
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Replying to @TimSweeneyEpic
You call out people for calling your exclusivity contracts bribes, yet you keep using the word taxes for store fees because it conveys a negative emotion in americans. This is what is called a double standard.
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Replying to @jirsyem
Hmm, let’s explore this. Do mainstream journalistic publications refer to Apple and Google fees as taxes? Yes. Do they refer to negotiated business deals for publicly announced exclusives as bribes? No. For example, seehttps://techcrunch.com/2018/12/31/netflix-stops-paying-the-apple-tax-on-its-853m-in-annual-ios-revenue …
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The difference I think is that one is merely a derogatory synonym, and the other is a false characterization.
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Replying to @TimSweeneyEpic
It is still not a tax even if it gets used wrongly by multiple people. Just like the bribes.
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