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Why doesn't Steam support Android? (feddit.org)

submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by Ulrich@feddit.org to c/gaming@beehaw.org

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Steam revenue estimated 2024: $10.8B

Google Play Store gaming revenue 2024: ~$31B

Why doesn't Valve want a part of that? I mean they already have an Android app. Several, actually. I realize there's some amount of investment but surely the payoff is worth it, and they have the necessary funds and skills? I mean if F-Droid can do it with nothing but volunteers and grants...?

Certainly plenty of games won't lend themselves well to the mobile experience but also plenty of them do.

From a personal perspective: I don't really care a whole lot for mobile games but I do like Balatro and want to play it on my phone, but if I want to do that I have to buy another license, which I can't even do because I don't run Google Play Services.

Epic got in on this already. Where's Valve?

Edit: my reflections on this conversation:

Valve could distribute their own app like Epic but they'd also probably have to remove it from the Play Store because now a cross-platform game would give them an Android version, thus breaking Google's ToS. So would doing such a thing outweigh lost sales from the Google version, and would it impact customer satisfaction? I wonder how many people are actually purchasing PC games in the Steam Android app...?

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[–] _cryptagion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yes, I imagine you don't. Which is probably why you asked the question in the first place.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

...would you like to explain?

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

They're implying that the entire android software ecosystem is shit and should be avoided

[–] _cryptagion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not Android specifically, I’m talking mobile games in general. I’m on iOS, and it’s not any better here. Mobile games are usually free for a reason, and that reason is that they are loaded with spyware, ads, and shitty monetization practices that I very highly doubt the majority of PC gamers on Windows, Linux, or MacOS would like to see become more prevalent on their platform.

And I while I don’t think Valve is some benevolent corporate overlord that’s looking out for what’s best for us, I do think they know how to extract a lot of value out of PC gamers for many years, and that’s by generally giving us what we want.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

loaded with spyware, ads, and shitty monetization practices

I mean that's already the case with PC games...? Only slightly better because they are not Google and don't allow straight-up ads for third-party products and services, which is what most of these "free" mobile games run on anyway. Valve has the potential to make a much better experience.

If you don't like it, don't buy it.

[–] _cryptagion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.

I won't, because it isn't a thing and never will be.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Excellent, so you agree it's not the problem you made it out to be?

[–] _cryptagion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That's the argument you decided to go with? Really?

Yeah, it's not a problem in the same way that you having a cohesive thought happen to wander through your barren mind is not a problem.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 2 weeks ago

It wasn't my argument, it was yours.

[–] _cryptagion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

You won’t get a notification unless I reply directly to you, so see my reply to the other person.