What was reported
Coverage of this story continues to develop across the region, and the account below restates what was reported by the original publication without adding anything that was not already there.
Facebook X Reddit Flipboard Email 0 us Epic Games Tim Sweeney dropped hot take about earlier this week, that Valve's online "has held gaming for years" by developers into Steamworks. comment came amidst conversation started by Kiaran former principal animation at Epic, who the 30% cut takes from game on Steam. "You vibe code alternative week," Ritchie wrote on "Cloudflare egress is free. The industry is desperate of distribution platform that developers to keep their "Networks effects and the obsession with 'muh will make this very But if devs keep their earnings, we'd have selection of better games and far financial success stories." Videos FromPC Gamer full video here: user called Ritchie's into question and pointed out that the "vibe coded" Epic Games Store had met with mixed Ritchie replied, "The client is this day and age. Anyone one better than and it even be hard. only bring it up it's what everyone about defending Steam. Like it's still and these things are hard. only remaining value is its Asking rhetorically why offer Steamworks services on la carte basis developers only pay for what they use, concluded, "They won't. would willingly pay anything to 30% for it." Which is where Sweeney came "Exactly this," wrote reply to "Valve has held gaming for years by PC games into Steamworks' social garden where players can't to other players on iOS, Android, PlayStation, Switch, or even other PC (Image credit: Tim Sweeney (Twitter)) was appended with community stating that "a lot of games Steamworks only for authentication to allow for crossplay and the rest themselves." Sweeney dismissed this "fake," writing that "Steam relay isn't related to the things social, and players talking to each other platforms." The biggest gaming news, and hardware deals Keep up to date with the important stories and the best picked by the PC Gamer team. The next added response to the community note, that Valve"doesn't kidnap you and you to Steamworks," but suggesting that it is impractical for developers to it. Epic offers its own social and matchmaking framework called Epic Online Services, which Epic's account system, but be used outside of the Epic Games Store. (Image credit: Tim Sweeney (Twitter)) Chalk There's potential for conversation here, Sweeney does make some points and wholeheartedly agree that 30% cut on game sales—which has long been number-one bugaboo—is extremely But all of that runs headlong into the fact that is tremendously successful, and developers might grumble about its steep they still choose to it it's far and away the dominant platform and PC It's also that Sweeney is arguing that should its ways resolutely denouncing of the AI-centric course he's for Epic. So, on one hand get the market realist that AI is inevitable and should accept but on the other are told should accept what has done and continues to even it's working well for and has helped tidal wave of indie gaming the past two decades—which, is now under threat by It makes me wonder: Does believe has held gaming, or does just it to things way? 2026 games: All the gamesBest PC games: Our all-time PC games: Freebie festBest FPS games: gunplayBest RPGs: Grand co-op games: Better together TOPICS Chalk US Lead has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, youngster with text adventures and action games on cassette-based TRS80. From graduated to the glory days of Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran BBS, learned how to and developed longstanding love of immersive sims, and shooters. began writing 2007 for The Escapist and somehow to avoid getting fired 2014, joined the storied of PC Gamer. covers all aspects of the from new game announcements and patch to legal disputes, Twitch esports, and Henry Cavill. of Henry Cavill.
Readers following the wider topic will recognise several familiar threads here, and further updates are expected as more becomes known. Nothing above should be read as speculation beyond what the reporting itself supports.