points by throwaw12 1 day ago | 0 comments
> Steam can only exist if indie developers feel confident they can publish there.
Why though?
Imagine, there will be an AI agent, which will produce new game everyday and Steam users will like it and keep buying. Steam can only exist if customers keep buying and are not annoyed by games.
[–] meheleventyone 1 day ago
[–] throwaw12 1 day ago
They can take same cut from what AI agent is building and selling, as long as there are buyers.
I still don't get it
[–] meheleventyone 1 day ago
Why would they need to take a cut in that fantastical case? They'd just own the agents and take 100%. Not to mention AI at this level of advancement would probably have a decisive lead in many areas leading to mass unemployment which would likely crash the game playing parts of the economy so might be it's own undoing. Valve need customers with disposable income.
[–] coffeebeqn 1 day ago
AI clones would be a race to the bottom in pricing because how else would clone #4 stand out from clone #3
Valve takes a 30% cut of all sales through their platform which is responsible for the majority of their revenue. This is dependent on it being a mutually beneficial relationship for developers and a near monopoly on PC customers eyeballs.
Fantastical examples aside Valve is still dependent on developer good will. The balance of that to the near monopoly is a much more valid point about how far Steam can strain that relationship.