Bethesda's upcoming online take on the Fallout series is releasing this year, and if you pre-ordered the game, you'll be able to access the beta test that's scheduled for early October. Though details are still bare, Bethesda announced something new through the FAQ page for the beta: Fallout 76's PC version will not be launching on Valve's Steam platform. It appears as though Bethesda wishes to push its own launcher, Bethesda.net, instead of using Steam. The reveal of this follows Epic Games' choice to forgo a popular distribution service, the Google Play Store, in order to take a larger cut of profits. It is stated that this only will affect users who buy the game at launch, and it's implied that Fallout 76 will be available on the service some time after release.

If you're a PC gamer, does this impact your choice to purchase the game? Do you prefer publishers using their own game launchers, rather than just Steam?

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[Hells Malice]

Always a bad choice in terms of raw population numbers, but i'm sure they'll do just fine being as big as they are.

Definitely annoying though. Yet another arbitrary client to take up space.

 

[RedBlueGreen]

Good. ESO has a ton of problems launching through Steam (glad I bought it before they forced you to launch via Steam).

EDIT: Oh it's a seperate launcher and not like ESO's launcher? That kind of blows. Though no Steam isn't a downside for me because I hate Steam. But another annoying storefront is a downside for me.

 

[Xzi]

Adds another reason for me to not buy this game, as if lack of story and online-only weren't bad enough already. We also definitely don't need another PC games launcher on top of Steam, UPlay, Battle.net, Origin, Epic Launcher, and GOG.

 

[HaloEliteLegend]

A sign of things to come, I suppose. This way, they don't have to forfeit a cut of profits to Valve or any other middleman. Expect Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6 to launch exclusively through Bethesda.net as well.

 

[Deleted User]

I remember when a damn CD key was enough to let me play my PC game. Launcher bloat is getting insane.

 

[Deleted User]

I really wish developers would stop trying to push their own launchers. I know it's good to have some competition, but most of these clients are half-hearted attempts at game launchers which only exist to give companies more control over their profits and how their games are distributed.

Besides, having to manage several launchers for different games is a pain, and detrimental to people meticulous about organizing their games on their hard drive.

 

[Godofcheese]

We should fix an intervention for Bethesda.
This self abuse is starting to worry me.

 

[Mikemk]

Honestly, I'd say Steam does need better competition though.

 

[Xzi]

Honestly, I'd say Steam does need better competition though.

Which isn't going to come from a launcher made exclusively for Bethesda games. GOG is Steam's only real competition. Most people prefer to keep their games all in one place if possible.

 

[HaloEliteLegend]

Honestly, I'd say Steam does need better competition though.

Problem is, Steam is already good enough in a way that competing storefronts just don't have much else to offer. I can only think of GOG as a somewhat worthy Steam competitor since they actually do something different (offer entirely DRM-free games), and even then, GOG more or less coexists with Steam rather than challenges it. So all you really get are these half-hearted attempts at storefronts a la Origin, Uplay, etc, whose only real purpose is for big publishers to avoid paying royalties to Steam or another platform holder. Even online third-party storefronts like Humble, Green Man Gaming, IndieGala, etc. just sell Steam keys for redemption on, well, Steam.

 

[tacticurn]

Which isn't going to come from a launcher made exclusively for Bethesda games. GOG is Steam's only real competition. Most people prefer to keep their games all in one place if possible.

If they just made the launcher stand-alone, one per game, nobody would care really. As long as they keep this "let me just slip myself into your auto start and systray and send endless data to my master about your doings" out of it.

 

[kumikochan]

Probably so that they can secure the game more against FREE mods

 

[Song of storms]

Good. Steam needs to be put in its place.

 

[SomeGamer]

I prefer Start Menu.

 

[tacticurn]

I prefer Start Menu.

It is fantastic old school technology.

 

[MarkDarkness]

If Bethesda heads in this direction, I will just do the same thing that I do with any game that uses uPlay: not play them legally. Steam is a great storefront in many subtle ways that people from the developed world do not understand. For those living in the developing world, the way Steam enforces prices that are aligned with local economic realities instead of pegged at some imaginary US standard is what allows us to play games legally. GOG.com does some of this to a lesser scale and I respect their anti-DRM stance very much, but it is still better to buy on Steam. So yeah... screw other storefronts.

 

[RedoLane]

Then I guess Doom Eternal will use that as well when it'll be released in the future?

 

[tacticurn]

I don't play or buy games from Steam, nor Uplay anymore. If I even play a for-pay pc game, it is bought on GOG or a similar independent outlet.
Steam might be a great storefront, but it is also a chokehold on pc publishing. As long as they keep their launchers optional, I am fine. Like how GOG isn't required to run for you to play your games. Unlike Steam, ORigin, Uplay etc.

 

[Raylight]

Then I guess Doom Eternal will use that as well when it'll be released in the future?

Mother of God I hope not