Gabe Newell: It's Up to Valve to Bring EA Back to Steam

Sexy Beast

Sexy Beast

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Everybody has an opinion about the spat between Valve and Electronic Arts over the distribution of EA releases on Steam. Some people blame EA for hosing Steam users as it attempts to launch its competing Origin service, while others point the finger at Valve's inflexible DLC policies. But Valve boss Gabe Newell says it's actually "a whole complicated set of issues" that have come between the two gaming giants and, more to the point, it's up to Valve to bring EA back.

"I don't think Valve can pick just one thing and think the issue would go away if we fixed that," Newell told Develop. "We have to show EA it's a smart decision to have EA games on Steam, and we're going to try to show them that."

"The same thing is true of Steam. We have to prove we are creating value on an ongoing basis, whether it's to EA or Ubisoft or whoever."

Game companies have to "earn the right" to install their content on their customer's PCs, Newell explained, and Valve has to do the essentially the same thing with game publishers by demonstrating the value of selling their games on Steam.

"We want EA's games on Steam and we have to show them that's a smart thing to do," he said. "I think at the end of the day we're going to prove to Electronic Arts they have happier customers, a higher quality service, and will make more money if they have their titles on Steam. It's our duty to demonstrate that to them. We don't have a natural right to publish their games."
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Source: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/new...ell-Its-Up-to-Valve-to-Bring-EA-Back-to-Steam
 
Gabe Newell: Champion for Hats and Money...
 
When I read that article, I had a strong impression EA's return to Steam would depend on if EA feels they can make more money by hosting first party (and presumably bring in other publishers if they can ala Steam) on their propriety platform, or if they can make more money letting Steam pimp their stuff.

That is, Steam is undeniably the download leader right now. If EA sells (for example) the next Mass Effect through both Steam and Origin, they would reach a proportionally higher number installed base; however, Steam charges a fee for their service, as well as fees for any forthcoming DLC (and who are we kidding. EA probably made the DLC before even completing the game.) If EA only sells Mass Effect via Origin, the installed base would be lower, but EA would not be liable for any variable costs associated with doing business through Steam.

If EA pulls a donkey on this, uses first-tier franchises like Mass Effect and Battlefield 3 to bolster the Origin subscriber base, and begins overt operations to draw in other publishers to the Origin service, Steam could potentially suffer.
 
Ducttape said:
If EA pulls a donkey on this, uses first-tier franchises like Mass Effect and Battlefield 3 to bolster the Origin subscriber base, and begins overt operations to draw in other publishers to the Origin service, Steam could potentially suffer.
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I believe that's what they're trying to do. Trying to take some of the wind out of their sails. I don't think EA could hurt Steam by themselves, but like you said if other publishers jumped the "steam" boat, it could hurt Steam in the long run.
 
IrateDonnie said:
I believe that's what they're trying to do. Trying to take some of the wind out of their sails. I don't think EA could hurt Steam by themselves, but like you said if other publishers jumped the "steam" boat, it could hurt Steam in the long run.
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You could say that, but it's not like Origin is EA's first attempt at digital distribution. Origin is the exact same thing as the EA Store was, name change aside. What exactly is EA going to use to entice others to take their wares off of Steam and bet on Origin?

Honestly, the only Digital Distro. site I see that has a remote chance of competing directly with Steam is Gamersgate. Desura is very good, but it's mostly for Europe. Direct2Drive is meh and their sales are rarely that good. Impulse is absolute garbage and Gamestop's purchase hasn't reassured me they understand digital distribution much better.

Lots of people love Steam and Gamersgate because:

One, Buying games digitally is easy and convenient because things like easy and organized storage of games with no worries about discs and there's auto-updates as well.
Two, Many people want to buy games, but they don't want to pay full price for them. Steam and Gamersgate have excellent sales where people can watch for certain games and get them at a great price point at one time or another.

Heck, I've been watching Gamersgate's Summer Sale and scored King's Bounty Plat. Edition (Reg. $34.99) for $2.19. That's 94% off. I also got Dungeons (Reg. $39.99) for $6.79. 83% off.

I never would have bought those at full price. Wouldn't have even considered them. But they found a way to get me to pull the trigger, even if it was only for a fraction of the price.

Origin will do as well as the EA Store did and that's merely be an online storage facility where people buy and store their digital EA games and listen to EA say dumb things like, "If you are inactive for so long, we just might delete your account and all of your games."

As if you guys ever could beat the service of a first-rate digital distro. organization like Steam. Keep trying EA.
 
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I know Battlefiled is going to make EA dumptrucks of money, and companies with cash can do as they please, but I would honestly like to meet the person who believes this EA quote about why Battlefiled isn't going to Steam:
"In doing so, our goal is to not only reach the widest possible global audience with our games, but also to provide ongoing customer support, patches and great new content," the publisher said.

"We are intent on providing Battlefield 3 players with the best possible experience no matter where they purchase or play the game, and are happy to partner with any download service that does not restrict our ability to connect directly with consumers.

"Unfortunately, Steam has adopted a set of restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to deliver patches and other downloadable content. No other download service has adopted these practices.

"We hope to work out an agreement where Steam can carry Battlefield 3; meanwhile, gamers can pick from the more than 100 digital retailers."

Source
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The thing thats bothering my the most is that I'm wondering that if its available on both steam and origin, and the initial release is on origin (which I'll probably buy), then they release later on steam, will I have to pay for it twice to play with my steam buddies who have obviously migrated to the superior service (steam)?
 
Rukus. said:
The thing thats bothering my the most is that I'm wondering that if its available on both steam and origin, and the initial release is on origin (which I'll probably buy), then they release later on steam, will I have to pay for it twice to play with my steam buddies who have obviously migrated to the superior service (steam)?
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From what I've read, no matter where you buy it, Origin will be required to play BF3, even if it were to be offered on Steam. I'd suspect you could add BF3 to Steam like you can add any other game, and when you start it with Steam, Origin will also load.
 
Ducttape said:
I know Battlefiled is going to make EA dumptrucks of money, and companies with cash can do as they please, but I would honestly like to meet the person who believes this EA quote about why Battlefiled isn't going to Steam:
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I do know that non-Valve games purchased from Steam can not be patched by the regular digital download patches. You have to wait for Steam to update the files, which has delayed the release of updates on some previous games.
 
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