Monday, January 28th 2019

Metro Exodus Ditches Steam for Epic Games Store as Timed Exclusive

Metro Exodus is an upcoming post-apocalyptic first-person shooter that could be a trilogy finale. Just weeks ahead of its launch on the PC platform, 4A Games made a groundbreaking announcement: that the game will not be available to order on Steam, at least from tomorrow through Feb 14, 2020, and that its PC version will be an Epic Games Store timed exclusive. The game will launch at USD $49.99 in North America, and 59.95€ in the EU.

Pre-order sales of the game have stopped on Steam, however, those who bought the pre-order on Steam have the option of either receiving the game upon launch, or canceling their pre-order for a full refund. Those who choose to stick to Steam will get their game as usual, including update patches, and support on Steam Community. Epic Games Store is vacuuming game studios in droves due to a favorable revenue sharing deal compared to Steam, when lets developers keep 88 percent of the sales.
Source: Polygon
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153 Comments on Metro Exodus Ditches Steam for Epic Games Store as Timed Exclusive

#101
Franzen4Real
silentbogoThe only way I will switch to Epic Store, is if they get at least half as many games as Valve..
I'm actually quite the opposite. The day they have half as many games as Steam, is the day they start going downhill with piles and piles and piles of worthless garbage games that your have to wade through... just like Steam.

I would prefer to have my games in one client, but don't really care all that much if they are in 2 or 3. Definitely not enough to boycott a good game altogether just out of spite.
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#102
silentbogo
TheGuruStudSteam markup is the same as apple, insane.
Games haven't became expensive because of Steam, they became expensive due to ever-increasing Publisher markups (and "production value", whatever that means nowadays).
Steam's commission is flat 30%, which includes lots of stuff including hosting, advertising, sales assistance and campaign optimisation, various technical features not available elsewhere (Proton, flexible controller support), post-sales revenue (trading cards, in-game items etc), community features etc.
Oh... and 10-times bigger exposure, if that's of any importance :D
Franzen4RealDefinitely not enough to boycott a good game altogether just out of spite.
It's not out of spite, it's common sense. If a developer/publisher company wants to be an asshole and change their mind about availability mere 3 weeks before release - I won't be going out of my way just to give them money. If 4A wants to take a risk - I'm not gonna be a part of it at my own expense. If I skip Exodus - nothing bad is going to happen. I've survived without ME: Andromeda, never regretted not going to Origin for Crysis 3, not concerned with what's going on with Origin, and definitely don't miss that short time I spent with Bethesda Launcher.

Plus, it smells just as bad as pre-orders: with preorders you are committed to a game without knowing whether it's shit or not, and with buying a game on a new platform you are getting committed to this platform without a guarantee that it won't disappear next month/year due to lack of content publishers or content consumers.
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#103
Vayra86
etayoriusWell, that's unfortunate. Now I won't get to experience their game, and they won't get to experience my money. Lose/lose.

Anyway, why can't it be on both stores or all the other ones out there too? i can't believe how people are defending this nonsense with "Developer will earn more cash in Epic Store". This is basically giving the finger to Steam consumers. I own over 450 Titles on Steam and i am not about to give up my library for one or two titles. I will no longer support any other Digital Store appart from Steam and GoG. This is not Competition, this is a new low for Deep Silver. Poor Metro Devs.

Back in the days of physical distribution copies retailers took nearly half the cash of every sale, and everyone was ok with it. Steam comes with their new System of Digital Distribution taking only a 30% and everyone moves there with joy. Now a decade later everyone shitting on Steam because they are supposedly being "unfair" to Developers. Trading in a few extra % Cash instead of all the possible sales on Steam. Idiotic move, plus all the hate from the PC Gamers out there, which are 95% of Steam users. Publishers are just getting greedier and want every little extra cash possible. I think Steam could offer to cut their 30% to 20% to basically every title on Steam and it's still fair because of the massive amount of Steam users there.
I don't understand how you can even be 'a Steam customer'. Are you also just a customer at one supermarket? Are you cautiously avoiding any other supermarkets? Or clothing brands? Or cars? Or vegetable farmers? I mean... where's the logic here?

PC Gamers are not by definition 'Steam users'. They have an account there, yes, which makes sense because the store has steadily built to a near-monopoly. But they also have accounts elsewhere, for example with literally every publisher they buy games from and log in for, for example. Even you have that, and all Steam is, is a way to save you one or two extra clicks to get you where you want to be - ingame.

Also, I am lost as to how you feel you 'lose' anything by having multiple launchers and/or libraries at stores. Not to mention the fact that you can still put game shortcuts anywhere you want regardless of the store they're linked to. I'm also wondering why you think Steam has 'reach' as in: they can bring the game to thousands of customers. They don't. Steam only advertises on its own platform and the vast majority barely browses the store, and many people disable the popups Steam gives you pre- and post-game launch. There's a good chance a large audience will never see a game within/through Steam, but elsewhere in marketing and buys a Steam key somewhere, because there aren't any other kinds of keys available. That's what I do...

Care to elaborate? I'm honestly curious about the thought process here.

Last, the cost/benefit aspect for developers and publishers - a 30% cut for a store that is digital is quite a lot, still. Half the sale price for a physical store was also, always essentially too much. I think you misunderstand how pricing really works under the hood... That 30% cut on a game sale price can go two ways: 1. cut into the development budget which literally means you get less game because Steam wants its cut, or 2. increase the sale price of games. Every expense will in the end always land in the customers' lap. Why would you support that, feeding the middle man that is never going to bring you any game at all? (Not even Half life 3... :D)
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#104
siluro818
Competition would be for Epic to distribute Metro Exodus at lower prices (for all regions) in parallel with Steam's distribution.

This is not competition, this is BS, not to mention I've lost all respect for Epic after they completely halted any and all development on the crowdsourced UT title, disregarding years of work by so many people and telling so many lies in the process.

All because they hit the underage jackpot with Fortnite, which is what we owe this Epic store nonsense to also for that matter.

I will not be playing the exclusives game on the PC front, much like I refuse to do so about console titles.

Metro Exodus will be purchased from the CPY store, thank you very much lol
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#105
avenger001
Is this another game launcher i will have to install to play this game?
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#106
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
Yes. Epic Games Store is a lot like GOG Galaxy, Steam, Origin, uPlay, Battle.net.
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#107
etayorius
Vayra86I don't understand how you can even be 'a Steam customer'. Are you also just a customer at one supermarket? Are you cautiously avoiding any other supermarkets? Or clothing brands? Or cars? Or vegetable farmers? I mean... where's the logic here?

PC Gamers are not by definition 'Steam users'. They have an account there, yes, which makes sense because the store has steadily built to a near-monopoly. But they also have accounts elsewhere, for example with literally every publisher they buy games from and log in for, for example. Even you have that, and all Steam is, is a way to save you one or two extra clicks to get you where you want to be - ingame.

Also, I am lost as to how you feel you 'lose' anything by having multiple launchers and/or libraries at stores. Not to mention the fact that you can still put game shortcuts anywhere you want regardless of the store they're linked to. I'm also wondering why you think Steam has 'reach' as in: they can bring the game to thousands of customers. They don't. Steam only advertises on its own platform and the vast majority barely browses the store, and many people disable the popups Steam gives you pre- and post-game launch. There's a good chance a large audience will never see a game within/through Steam, but elsewhere in marketing and buys a Steam key somewhere, because there aren't any other kinds of keys available. That's what I do...

Care to elaborate? I'm honestly curious about the thought process here.

Last, the cost/benefit aspect for developers and publishers - a 30% cut for a store that is digital is quite a lot, still. Half the sale price for a physical store was also, always essentially too much. I think you misunderstand how pricing really works under the hood... That 30% cut on a game sale price can go two ways: 1. cut into the development budget which literally means you get less game because Steam wants its cut, or 2. increase the sale price of games. Every expense will in the end always land in the customers' lap. Why would you support that, feeding the middle man that is never going to bring you any game at all? (Not even Half life 3... :D)
Sure. as you know, Steam represents 90-95% of the PC Market out there with 50 Million users, so by definition... NO, Steam does not represents ALL PC Gamers, but they certainly represent a overwhelming majority. No wonder why Metro and Deep Silver FB posts are filled with such a massive angry reactions. Regarding the launcher, it's very simple. I Choose not to have many of them cluttering my Desktop and i prefferably want my Games on a single Library. Second, i could care less how Devs and Publishers or Retailers split the cash between them when i buy one of their games, after all... i am paying for the game, it's not like i am stealing them. I would also i happily pay more to have it on Steam with all their features. It's just a matter of choice, really. Nothing more nothing less. You're more than welcome to buy your titles in Epic. You asked a fair question and i replied with my opinion. Others might not agree or think that it's dumb, but it's ok.
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#108
Vayra86
etayoriusSure. as you know, Steam represents 90-95% of the PC Market out there with 50 Million users, so by definition... NO, Steam does not represents ALL PC Gamers, but they certainly represent a overwhelming majority. No wonder why Metro and Deep Silver FB posts are filled with such a massive angry reactions. Regarding the launcher, it's very simple. I Choose not to have many of them cluttering my Desktop and i prefferably want my Games on a single Library. Second, i could care less how Devs and Publishers or Retailers split the cash between them when i buy one of their games, after all... i am paying for the game, it's not like i am stealing them. I would also i happily pay more to have it on Steam with all their features. It's just a matter of choice, really. Nothing more nothing less. You're more than welcome to buy your titles in Epic. You asked a fair question and i replied with my opinion. Others might not agree or think that it's dumb, but it's ok.
Would I be correct in summarizing most of your arguments as 'comfort choices'? There is no judgement in that, by the way. Just an observation.
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#109
etayorius
FordGT90ConceptYes. Epic Games Store is a lot like GOG Galaxy, Steam, Origin, uPlay, Battle.net.
You forgot to Throw Microsoft Store in there... GoG is ok, no issues with it because you really own the games there and also they are pro consumer.
Vayra86Would I be correct in summarizing most of your arguments as 'comfort choices'? There is no judgement in that, by the way. Just an observation.
Yes, i think you might be right.
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#110
jabbadap
etayoriusYou forgot to Throw Microsoft Store in there... GoG is ok, no issues with it because you really own the games there and also they are pro consumer.

Yes, i think you might be right.
... And with GoG you don't really have to use their software(That galaxy thingy), just load the game files and you are good to go.
Posted on Reply
#111
lexluthermiester
Vayra86I don't understand how you can even be 'a Steam customer'. Are you also just a customer at one supermarket? Are you cautiously avoiding any other supermarkets? Or clothing brands? Or cars? Or vegetable farmers? I mean... where's the logic here?
I actively avoid Walmart and a few other stores I don't like for various reasons. Does that count? The concept and reasoning is similar.
FordGT90ConceptYes. Epic Games Store is a lot like GOG Galaxy, Steam, Origin, uPlay, Battle.net.
Except that GOG's Galaxy is not required to play the game you buy and own on GOG. Everyone else "Client" is required.
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#112
SystemMechanic
What about Physical copies ? I am cancelling mine if it aint on Steam..why not release on both platforms so ppl buy where ever they want to.
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#113
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
lexluthermiesterExcept that GOG's Galaxy is not required to play the game you buy and own on GOG. Everyone else "Client" is required.
Out of curiosity, I checked. I stopped the Epic Games Store application, ran Edith Finch directly from its executable, and Edith Finch started Epic Games Store. The Epic Games Store application seems to have the same kind of integration that Steam does so, you're right, GOG Galaxy is clearly the winner in terms of independence.
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#114
rtwjunkie
PC Gaming Enthusiast
UbersonicWell **** Deep Silver then.

I bought the first two games on release and was planning on doing the same with the third until they pulled it from Steam, now I'll be getting it from Bittorrent, their loss for trying to boost profits with anti-consumer practicses /spit.
:roll:Do you realize how juvenile that thinking is? Are you 12? I bet you try to save every bit of money you can, just like a business does. Only when a business does it they are some evil monster.
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#115
Ubersonic
Hopefully, if we're lucky, Valve may be able to file a lawsuit to get the game back on Steam, as the vast majority of the advertising for the game was done by Valve based on contracts that DS reneged on. It's a small chance tho.
rtwjunkieDo you realize how juvenile that thinking is? Are you 12? I bet you try to save every bit of money you can, just like a business does. Only when a business does it they are some evil monster.
Look kid this isn't about a business saving money, this is about a business profiteering via anti-consumer practices. Exclusivity is the cancer of the videogames industry, a cancer that after decades of ravaging the console market has (thanks to these ****s) just crept over and infected the PC market.
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#116
silentbogo
UbersonicHopefully, if we're lucky, Valve may be able to file a lawsuit to get the game back on Steam, as the vast majority of the advertising for the game was done by Valve based on contracts that DS reneged on. It's a small chance tho.
It's been publicly confirmed that Exodus will be an Epic exclusive for for launch period. It will be available on Steam in 2020 (a year after release), if Gaben doesn't do the "counter-strike"(pun intended) by denying re-listing.
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#117
Ubersonic
silentbogoIt's been publicly confirmed that Exodus will be an Epic exclusive for for launch period.
I didn't ask that, I was just saying hopefully there may be a chance (albeit a very small one) that once Valve have time to meet with their lawyers/etc they may be able to find a way to force the devs to honour their original contract due to the amount Valve have already spent advertising their product.

Hell, if we're super duper lucky then maybe Epic/Deep Silver may realise that the negative press they're getting from all this is costing them much more than losing sales to Steam would have done and remove their exclusivity lock. However that too is very unlikely as the whole reason they went for exclusivity is because they knew that being cheaper than steam wouldn't be enough to take sales from steam hence why they went the anti-consumer route in the first place.
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#118
SniperHF
lexluthermiesterEveryone else "Client" is required.
This is actually not strictly true, at least with Steam anyway.
There are a number of games on Steam that will run straight from the .exe without Steam open. Divinity Original Sin 1&2 are an example.

But most developers/publishers choose to integrate with Steam as a form of DRM.
siluro818Competition would be for Epic to distribute Metro Exodus at lower prices (for all regions) in parallel with Steam's distribution.
Yes I think this is sort of a fundamental flaw with the games space in general. No games retailer is actually a retailer, they are a marketplace. The publishers set the prices, control the keys, etc.
It's not like a retailer where say Steam goes to Deep Silver and says I want 20,000 keys to sell on Steam what price will give you give me let's negotiate. The publisher actively controls their space on Steam including the price.

I just don't know that there's a way to fundamentally realign the industry away from this. Since publishers got this control with the digital distribution boom, they'll never want to give that up.
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#119
silentbogo
UbersonicI didn't ask that, I was just saying hopefully there may be a chance (albeit a very small one) that once Valve have time to meet with their lawyers/etc they may be able to find a way to force the devs to honour their original contract due to the amount Valve have already spent advertising their product.
4A(or Koch/THQ to be more specific ) will fulfill their obligations to Steam/Valve by honoring all pre-orders. I doubt their contract has any provisions for "future" or "expected" sales.
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#120
rtwjunkie
PC Gaming Enthusiast
UbersonicLook kid
LMAO. You are a child in age terms. You literally know nothing of me or that word would never have come out of your keyboard. Your reaction, just as with all the other angry people is so indicative of 1st worlders totally oblivious to what is really important in this world, and shows a clear sense of selfishness. It’s infantile.
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#121
Ubersonic
rtwjunkieYou literally know nothing of me or that word would never have come out of your keyboard.
Well if you don't want people to assume you're a little kid don't act like one, try being polite to other posters instead of just randomly flaming them to initiate conversation and people will probably be nicer back to you ;)
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#122
bajs11
Already have Steam and Origin and I am not going to get another launcher just to play this game
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#123
rtwjunkie
PC Gaming Enthusiast
UbersonicWell if you don't want people to assume you're a little kid don't act like one, try being polite to other posters instead of just randomly flaming them
Well, let’s recap, shall we? You joined a conversation I was already part of from page 1. Your contribution was to curse out Deep Silver, and then state your intention to pirate the game because the store it’s sold from is not to your liking, which is not only morally wrong, it is explicitly against the rules of this site.

Yet, you seem to think those childish actions merit a “hi, how are you? Glad to have you join the conversation!”?
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#124
95Viper
Enough bickering back and forth.
Get back on topic.

Thank You.
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#125
bajs11
UrbanCamperAs of right now it is still available on Steam. Supposedly, if you buy before the change over(later today) you will still be able to access through Steam.

As a side note a company called Tencent Holdings Limited owns 48% of Epic games. It is a Chinese company and is the largest gaming company in the world. They also handle the majority of money transactions for gaming in China. not sure how that shakes out with Epic.

I just got it on Steam.
One more reason not to get this new platform

according to this article Tencent is among the largest internet companies in the world.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/18/world/asia/china-internet.html
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