Microsoft Confirms Plans to Challenge Steam with Digital Distribution of Full PC Titles

the worst part about this is that it means MORE proprietary anti-consumer software systems, not less. And if Microsoft takes a large part of this market share, do we think that their solution will be better or worse for the consumer than the competition. Lets think about IE and MSN here for a moment.

Microsoft won the browser war by shipping its next OS with its browser already installed. Since they had already won the OS war, they won the browser war by default as soon as people bought their computers.

Microsoft won the IM war by doing the same thing. We remember ICQ. Well ICQ in the 1990s had some features that MSN still doesn't have, but MSN promptly became the most popular IM program as soon as windows shipped with it. This delivery method works especially well because it hooks kids when they get their new computer.

So we know that digital game distribution is next with Windows Live, the Windows version of Xbox Live, two platforms which Microsoft wholly controls.

And to make matters worse, this is untested legal territory, but you probably don't really own what you bought on Steam, you just own the right to get it from Valve. So if Valve changes hands or the system changes significantly, you might not have the option of, say, using Steam in spite of the alternatives. And you definitely won't be able to move your games to a new download service. Who is to say that Steam can't go the way of ICQ?

When Circuit City goes under, the COD4 I bought from them will still work and I can download the patches from the developer. When Steam goes away what happens to my Steam copy of COD4? Answer: Undefined.

One solution? Publishers agree to an open distribution standard under which they will support their games the same way regardless of which authorized distributor sold and provided the bandwidth for the game. Sort of like how the, you know, brick and mortar stores work now.

Today digital distribution is the wild west and the consumer has a slingshot. Smaller groups like Stardock and Mount & Blade give me hope, but they suffer from the same problem of what legally happens when the server you get the software from goes away. Are you entitled to a certain amount of support.

Hopefully it won't crash as often like steam does, and if it does hopefully they'll fix it, unlike valve has.

You guys are hard to please. Would you rather see Microsoft release games only on DVD or HD-DVD?

I'm surprised it took them this long. Holy shit, Microsoft is using the internet!!!

its also really funny to hear about this, due to the fact that Windows 7 wont have support for Hybrid graphics, which are Crossfire's and SLI's.

"Here are all these great games!!! but hey, because im Mircosoft you STILL can't play Crysis of very high."

Meh, not too exciting. I would have been wetting my pants if they instead announced some kind of full GFW Live partnership and integration with Steam/Valve. I have no problem leaving Steam running, and using its overlay is kinda sweet. I do NOT want 2-3 such things running however. =(

What this really sounds like to me is another step by Microsoft to get some control over the PC market like with the 360 and make the two a package deal. All they need is digital distribution to come to the 360 and/or be fully supported on the next Xbox and suddenly they can offer a rather complete development and distribution system to devs and publishers to hit two of the three platforms. Then it becomes "why bother doubling your effort just to sell a few extra copies on that sony system?"

good old microsoft, always has to barge in and copy something successful.

"Steam currently features no priced DLC, a fact which Microsoft hopes to exploit with both publishers and customers by rolling out DLC support ahead of full distribution. "

Gee thanks MS for finding new ways to fuck gamers up the ass.

They've neglected us PC gamers for all these years and now they decide to look us in the eyes!?

*emotional breakdown*

Microsoft just rick rolled themselves....idiots

I won't use Microsoft's platform for one reason. They cave in every time to the "pressure" from other industries to provide integrated, near draconian DRM into their software, which is one reason why Vista is such a resource hog. Steam is wonderful, convenient, lean, and has nearly every publisher and developer along for the ride. Microsoft can buy other companies or mimic products, and even buy customers themselves by leaving no good alternative alive (linux is crap for most games, same with macs), but they are incapable of buying customer SATISFACTION with a mediocre, underperforming product that is not competitive with the other alternatives. Steam's DRM is very out of the way...big deal if I have to leave steam open, or be connected to the internet, If you can buy games through steam, that means you already meet the minimum requirements for playing a game you bought through steam.

So...with that in mind, anyone want to start hazarding a guess as to the type of DRM that will be integrated into their pseudosteam? I'm willing to wager a penny or two on Starforce, a quarter on TAGES, a dollar on Safedisc, and a Ben Franklin on some abomination that EA, the RIAA, and MPAA all mix inside a pot and force upon microsoft, as they likely won't be selling just games, why stop there? And why those three? Because they just don't understand that draconian DRM doesn't make for happy customers, and by draconian, I'm referring to over the top, intrusive DRM that can cause systems to become unstable, or use up any CPU power in the background, require a DVD to be inside the computer at the start of every game session(I hate that...), or limits the number of installs to anything short of my hearts content.

Microsoft never even got games for Windows live off the ground, much less come close to Steam. Hell they can't even get players from the PC and 360 together, something they also promised some time ago.

I am wondering...Say Microsoft gets this off the ground and uses some form of anti-piracy from both your end and their end. Publishers and the like start to offer their games on Microsoft Live and find the games hard to pirate. As time go's by, the only way to buy a 'PC' game is off Live. Yes, I could see this happen by Windows 7...

Windows Live is far superior to xfire. Xfire is a workaround.

i'm staying the fuck away from microsoft and any thing with a fucking DLC tag on it. keep that shit on consoles fuck that.

microsoft has to stop copying other people projects and start innovating in something new instead

I have a xbox 360 too but i don't belive in microsoft software for PC.
So fuck off MS im whit valve

[huge laughter]

Here comes the exclusivity contracts that ravage our poor industry.

I just hope this competition doesn't lead to a feature war, where games are gradually becoming subscription based through turning would-be core content into paid DLC.

This will be integrated into Windows 7. Everytime you try to buy a game from steam, GFW will come up and tell you that you sould buy it from MS because steam may not be safe.

I sorta wish people would get on board with one platform and just stick with it. I can understand why Microsoft wants a piece of the action, but it just means more applications that you need to have installed on your computer.

I won't go so far as to say Microsoft will best Steam, but they'll bury themselves in losses for a couple years if the payoff is eventually good and that's bad for Steam since I think they've been relatively slow to improve the platform. Steam is great, and I love Valve, but Steam still needs major improvements. Steam Cloud will give Valve the edge for sometime, but Microsoft's road to victory is courting publishers which I think they can do better than Valve. That's how they'll do it. Publishers / Developers preference vs. Gamers preference and we all know who wins that one.

At least this is good for PC Gaming.

Why doesn't Microsoft challenge steam/valve and develop PC games again. Now that would be something.

Why? Steam is great... perhaps Microsoft should innovate instead of replicate.

If I have to use Microsoft's disney dollar point system to pay for games they can just fuck right off. Steam at least lists the price in real money instead of some convaluded point system designed to keep me spending.

Knowing Microsoft's "success" with Games for Windows Live, I think I'll stay with Steam.

Where can you download the actual update?

Crappy DLC on PC? And how will this affect user created mods?

Noooo!!!!!!, microsoft will win eventually. With it on every windows 7, everyone that upgrades will be treated to it. Unfortunately, there are people that dont know what steam is, and could make gow more popular in the end. Hopefully our purchased games on steam wont ever vanish though.

"Steam currently has no DLC solution"

Huh? Did Mr. Next-next-gen say something?

This just feels like them trying to shoe horn a reason for charging for patches PC users have always got for free.

Unfortunately microsoft will win. They'll keep throwing piles of money at developers for exclusivity rights. They've already got people to install that Live crap with Fallout 3. Who would've predicted they would kick sony's ass?

Gaming is doomed. Don't expect any free shit anymore.

I been going around purposely buying all my games on Steam because I love the platform (No CDs all my games in one place).

This is the first time I actually got alittle scare that I made a mistake. I am not too worried, but I am going to certainly follow this issue.

I mean, if I have to go through a few programs, I will. I already have to use Impulse for my Stardock games. Blizzard for their games.

At first I was concerned, but then thought about it for a bit. I imagine, this will be draconian as hell, with some sort of rootkit/drm software.

Steam has my support all the way.

I fully expected this. They have been trying to turn the Windows PC into a gaming platform for a while now and this the best way to do it. That said, I'm worried that they will slowly attempt to close the platform to the point where everything will have to go through them. I hope that stays in the realm of tin foil hats.

I've relatively liked MS during windows XP and xbox but I think they're starting to fuck it up hard again. Do something useful. Developers complain about not making any money, and I'm sure this is another system that gives them a fraction of the profit and makes you a middleman nobody asks for? I'm not a big steam user but I'll start buying my games there if they get serious about this, just because I'm sure Valve cuts more honest deals.