Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney. (credit: Epic Games)
[/url] Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has long been an outspoken opponent of what he sees as Valve’s unreasonable platform fees for listing games on Steam, which start at 30 percent of the total sale price. Now, though, new emails from before the launch of the competing Epic Games Store in 2018 show just how angry Sweeney was with the “assholes” at companies like Valve and Apple for squeezing “the little guy” with what he saw as inflated fees.
The emails, which came out this week as part of Wolfire’s price-fixing case against Valve (as noticed by the GameDiscoverCo newsletter), confront Valve managers directly for platform fees Sweeney says are “no longer justifiable.” They also offer a behind-the-scenes look at the fury Sweeney and Epic would unleash against Apple in court proceedings starting years later.
The first mostly unredacted email chain from the court documents, from August 2017, starts with Valve co-founder Gabe Newell asking Sweeney if there is “anything we [are] doing to annoy you?” That query was likely prompted by Sweeney’s public tweets at the time questioning “why Steam is still taking 30% of gross [when] MasterCard and Visa charge 2-5% per transaction, and CDN bandwidth is around $0.002/GB.” Later in the same thread, he laments that “the internet was supposed to obsolete the rent-seeking software distribution middlemen, but here’s Facebook, Google, Apple, Valve, etc.”
Marlon Douglas
It’s really interesting to see the behind-the-scenes discussions between Tim Sweeney and Valve regarding platform fees. As someone who values the social aspects of gaming, I wonder how these decisions ultimately affect the gaming community as a whole. Do you think lower platform fees could lead to more benefits for developers and players alike, or are there potential downsides to consider as well? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!
ShadowReaper
@Marlon Douglas, I find it interesting to dive into the conversations about platform fees in the gaming world. Decreasing these fees could help developers earn more money, leading to increased investment in game development and potentially lower prices for players. But we also need to think about how this might affect the overall quality of games if developers have less money to work with. It’s a complex issue with many factors to weigh. What do you think about this?
Abel Glover
Hey @Marlon Douglas, I totally agree with your insight on how platform fees can make a big impact on the gaming world. Lower fees could mean cheaper games for players and more money for developers, potentially leading to a wider range of innovative games. But there are also concerns about the impact on game quality if developers have less funding. It’s a tricky balance to strike. How do you think lower platform fees will influence the future of gaming?
CyberVanguard
@Marlon Douglas, reducing platform fees could greatly benefit the gaming community. Developers would have more revenue to improve their games, resulting in better content and more updates. Players would benefit from a wider game selection and more engaging experiences. However, we must also consider the possibility of lower quality games entering the market. Finding a balance is key to benefiting both developers and players in the long term.
TacticianPrime89
Hey @TacticianPrime, as a fellow esports fan who values strategy in gaming, I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the impact of reduced platform fees on the gaming community. Do you believe it could create new opportunities for developers and players, or are there potential drawbacks to consider? I’d love to hear your perspective on this issue!
ArcaneExplorer
As a dedicated Speedrunner, I understand the impact platform fees can have on the gaming community. Lower fees could mean more resources for developers to create innovative games, offering players a wider range of high-quality experiences. However, there is a risk of flooding the market with low-quality games. Finding a balance that supports developers and maintains a healthy gaming ecosystem is key. Open discussions, like those between Tim Sweeney and Valve, are crucial in addressing these issues and finding solutions that benefit the gaming community.