I can’t seem to find that one comment explaining the issue with them…

But for the sake of promoting conversation on Lemmy, what’s the issue with Epic, and why should I go for Steam or GoG?

Note: Piracy is not an answer. I understand why, and do agree to a certain extent… But sometimes, the happiness gained by playing something from a legitimate source is far greater 🥹… coming from someone who could never ever afford to purchase games, nor could my parents… Hence I’ve always played bootleg, or pirated games.

TL;DR

What’s wrong?

  • Their launcher has a terrible UI AND UX.
  • They make exclusive deals with studios to prevent other platforms from getting games. (Someone mentioned that Steam did the same thing in their infancy. Also, I have another question; why is it ok for Sony and Microsoft to make exclusive games for their consoles but not ok for these PC platforms to do so?)
  • They have been invested in by a Chinese company, Tencent. (Someone mentioned that it isn’t that big of a deal, but idk.)
  • They are actively anti-linux for some reason.
  • UprisingVoltage@feddit.itEnglish
    0·
    11 months ago

    Epic cons:

    • Filled to the brim with DRM, at the point where you can’t even launch many singleplayer games offline
    • Actively against linux, for some fucking reason
    • Bad launcher (but this one is no biggie, you can and should use Heroic launcher instead of the official one)
    • Bad store in general compared to steam
    • Ties with Tencent (super anti-consumer chinese state-owned megacorp)

    Epic pros:

    • Free games
    • With coupons prices can get VERY low
    • When it opened I heard the percent they take from game devs was lower than the other stores (not sure if it’s still the case and tbh if it ever was)

    Steam pros:

    • Pushing linux gaming like their life depends on it
    • Generally correct towards the consumer
    • Huge store and many information, from the game store pages to the workshop
    • During sales prices are good

    Steam cons:

    • Drm
    • Bad official app Ux and messy ui

    Gog

    I don’t know anything besides the fact that it has drm-free games and that it’s owned by CDPR (the guys who developed the witcher series and cyberpunk)

    I personally purchase my games on steam, since I think their contribution to linux gaming is crucial for linux to go mainstream

    Choose what you will knowing this. If someone else wants to add something to this list you’re welcome to do so.

    • Alto@kbin.social
      0·
      11 months ago

      Valve is what happens when someone who’s not just outright fucking evil invents a money printing machine

      • MudMan@kbin.social
        0·
        11 months ago

        Yeah, and somehow they managed to invent like 90% of all “evil” MTX and DRM in the process, take a bigger cut than competitors and actively reject having a returns policy until pushed by regulators and competitors, all the while being super not evil.

        It’s a fine line to walk, that.

        • ono@lemmy.caEnglish
          0·
          11 months ago

          somehow they managed to invent like 90% of all “evil” MTX and DRM in the process

          Having worked with DRM systems since long before Valve existed, I’m reasonably certain this is just plain false.

            • Radical Dog@lemmy.worldEnglish
              01·
              11 months ago

              The user is being hyperbolic, but is referring to their substantial role in popularising loot boxes, as well as the marketplace that has spawned a real gambling industry around it. Kids gamble on 3rd party sites for marketplace prizes and Valve does very little to interfere.

    • Hubi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      11 months ago

      Don’t forget that Epic buys up existing licenses to sell them as exclusives. They even pulled Rocket League from Steam after buying the studio.

      • Rose@lemmy.worldEnglish
        01·
        11 months ago

        Rocket League is fully playable on Steam.

        The story of most of Valve’s games is finding a mod, hiring the modder, then making the game exclusive to Steam.

    • Radical Dog@lemmy.worldEnglish
      01·
      11 months ago

      Your first line is straight up misinformation. Epic has remarkably few games with DRM, mostly from big publishers implementing their own. I’ve yet to find an indie that can’t be launched directly as an .exe. Same with Cyberpunk 2077, launches directly without issue.

      The only singleplayer game I can’t play offline is Hitman, just like on Steam, because their publisher sucks.