One aspect through which one could argue that they might stifle competition is their price parity rule, for which it seems they are being sued. See here (not sure if there is any new development.
Hard to compete with steam if you cant at least do it through lower pricing. Although this article suggests that at least for epic exclusives publisher seem to prefer to just pocket the difference, rather than pass on those savings.
Isn't that just saying you can't sell access to a game on steam (through a steam key) for a lower price than what's on Steam? It's not like they can't just offer a lower price... just that they can't offer it for a lower price bundled with Steam access.
So they can offer a lower price, just not as a third party through Steam itself.
I think you are right, the first article I linked was a bit ambiguous about it, but rereading the second one it seems that I misunderstood it and you are right.
If it was only about Steam Keys, there wouldn't have been a lawsuit.
If that's the case, why do people use sites like humble bundle when they could individually buy the games from steam?
Humble Bundle has a special relationship with Valve iirc, because of the charity work they do.
Doesn't explain all the other games sold for cheaper than steam when you take a look at isthereanydeals. Or the bundles fanatical offers with no charity involved.
I believe it means base price and not sale prices
Could be secondhand key resellers who have no deals with Steam regarding sales.
I believe it means base price and not sale prices. It's fine for a game to go on sale for lower than Steam, but the base price can't be $60 Steam $50 Epic as an example.
That is also allowed, but not if Epic purchase allows you to play the game on steam too
No it means that if the game is for sale on Steam then it can be sold elsewhere (GOG, EPIC...) but it's in the contract with Steam that it can't be sold for a lower price elsewhere, it's not about Steam keys sold by third party vendors.
One aspect through which one could argue that they might stifle competition is their price parity rule, for which it seems they are being sued. See here (not sure if there is any new development.
Hard to compete with steam if you cant at least do it through lower pricing. Although this article suggests that at least for epic exclusives publisher seem to prefer to just pocket the difference, rather than pass on those savings.
Isn't that just saying you can't sell access to a game on steam (through a steam key) for a lower price than what's on Steam? It's not like they can't just offer a lower price... just that they can't offer it for a lower price bundled with Steam access.
So they can offer a lower price, just not as a third party through Steam itself.
I think you are right, the first article I linked was a bit ambiguous about it, but rereading the second one it seems that I misunderstood it and you are right.
If it was only about Steam Keys, there wouldn't have been a lawsuit.
If that's the case, why do people use sites like humble bundle when they could individually buy the games from steam?
Humble Bundle has a special relationship with Valve iirc, because of the charity work they do.
Doesn't explain all the other games sold for cheaper than steam when you take a look at isthereanydeals. Or the bundles fanatical offers with no charity involved.
I believe it means base price and not sale prices
Could be secondhand key resellers who have no deals with Steam regarding sales.
I believe it means base price and not sale prices. It's fine for a game to go on sale for lower than Steam, but the base price can't be $60 Steam $50 Epic as an example.
That is also allowed, but not if Epic purchase allows you to play the game on steam too
No it means that if the game is for sale on Steam then it can be sold elsewhere (GOG, EPIC...) but it's in the contract with Steam that it can't be sold for a lower price elsewhere, it's not about Steam keys sold by third party vendors.