171 replies to this topic

[Armored Yokai]

With news that Epic Games is trying to make games exclusive to them there's a chance they will enforce Mechwarrior 5 not to be sold on steam and if Epic Games falls it will probably take MW5 along with it because of those limitations and people will not be able to buy MW5 from Steam.

MW5 is hosted on the Unreal Engine which is owned by Epic Games and Epic games might have licensing rights.

[Curccu]

Why would it fall?
And I'm pretty sure they cannot just decide it's exclusive to epic store, most likely they offer some money (or lesser % of $ for every copy sold) to developer to that happen, developer/publisher will decide how is it published.

[Wolfos31]

I've pre-ordered and I'm worried about this too. I like steam, I will not install the Epic Games launcher. If PGI goes exclusive with Epic I will find another way to get the game, using ANY means necessary. Because Steam got it absolutely right when they said piracy was a service issue. I have plenty of money to throw around, but I will not support a crap service like Epic.

[FRAGTAST1C]

Wolfos31, on 28 March 2019 - 05:58 AM, said:

but I will not support a crap service like Epic.

What's wrong with Epic Launcher?

[Sigmar Sich]

By leasing a game engine they don't get any publisher rights, don't worry.
I doubt MW5 will be exclusive to any service. But Steam is mentioned as primary. From the FAQ:
For which platform and delivery method am I pre-ordering?

• The MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries pre-order received through the Community Edition is for PC only.
  
• The Community Edition Pre-Order program will provide you with a key to the Steam version of MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries and the other Digital Content upon the game's release. The key(s) will be provided through your profile on this site.

Will there be other MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries pre-order editions? How will they differ?

• Standard pre-orders may become available through Steam and other digital marketplaces closer to the full release of MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries on September 10th, 2019. However, aside from the MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries Soundtrack, Digital Desktop Pack, and Digital Game Manual, those standard pre-orders will not contain any of the special MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries or MechWarrior Online content present within the Community Edition Pre-Orders.

[Curccu]

Wolfos31, on 28 March 2019 - 05:58 AM, said:

I've pre-ordered and I'm worried about this too. I like steam, I will not install the Epic Games launcher. If PGI goes exclusive with Epic I will find another way to get the game, using ANY means necessary. Because Steam got it absolutely right when they said piracy was a service issue. I have plenty of money to throw around, but I will not support a crap service like Epic.

Don't know how long you have been playing games but 1st time when steam was required to play counter-strike... oh that crying how sh!tty steam was and no one wanted to use it . I just find this amusing.

[Wolfos31]

Epic take less revenue than Steam it's true. But people seem to ignore that Steam has a system by which developers can take advantage of the great platform, while completely bypassing the revenue % cut. By selling their game on their own site and providing Steam keys to keep your library organized.

Not to mention Epic has been caught out doing a few shady things, like pulling Steam user data. (Though shame on Steam for not storing that encrypted)

Curccu, on 28 March 2019 - 06:06 AM, said:

Don't know how long you have been playing games but 1st time when steam was required to play counter-strike... oh that crying how sh!tty steam was and no one wanted to use it . I just find this amusing.

You're not wrong, but Epic isn't there yet. I mean, competition in a market is generally good for a consumer. Steam being challenged may push them to innovate more. But at this point I find Steam a very mature and well thought out platform. Plus their sales are great. I've bought more games for under $5 that I'll never play than I can count.

[Armored Yokai]

Steam has a HUGE crowd and sells far more games than epic. By removing Mechwarrior 5 from steam you limit the possibilities of reaching a new generation of players that could help keep the Mechwarrior series alive.

[GoodTry]

I don't get all of the strife about the Epic games store. It's just another launcher. You already need separate launchers for EA games, Blizzard/Activision games, Steam, and others. You also need a launcher for MWO.

What's the big deal?

Edited by GoodTry, 28 March 2019 - 06:13 AM.

[Wolfos31]

GoodTry, on 28 March 2019 - 06:13 AM, said:

I don't get all of the strife about the Epic games store. It's just another launcher. You already need separate launchers for EA games, Blizzard/Activision games, Steam, and others. You also need a launcher for MWO.

What's the big deal?

Most games have allowed cross platform. You can play COD on Steam for instance. Epic is trying to build its exclusive library to pull players from Steam. We already have exclusives for console vs PC and that's frustrating enough for a consumer who just wants to game and doesn't want/have the money to spend on multiple pieces of hardware.

Many of us don't want to install a bunch of different launchers on our PC, especially when we don't trust the ethics of some of the companies pushing these launchers.

In the end GoodTry you're right, it's just another launcher, but I understand why people don't like it. I'm one of them. Steam makes it so easy to buy and organize games, I feel that more launchers complicate things.

[Nightbird]

Given we're receiving a steam key for the MW5 pre-order, there's 0 chance it'll be exclusive to another platform. There is however the chance it won't be available anywhere other than Steam.

[Dionnsai]

For me personally, I've used Steam for over a decade. I personally would like to use steam for 100% of my games if possible, one launcher, one friends list, no complications. I don't even like using battle net for blizzard games. Its just additional complication.

If I can't use steam, I'd prefer to just install the game the old school way and not have a launcher at all.

[Curccu]

GoodTry, on 28 March 2019 - 06:13 AM, said:

You also need a launcher for MWO.

Nah I'll just use Steam... faster patches and works perfectly (for me at least).

[kuma8877]

Nightbird, on 28 March 2019 - 06:25 AM, said:

Given we're receiving a steam key for the MW5 pre-order, there's 0 chance it'll be exclusive to another platform. There is however the chance it won't be available anywhere other than Steam.

This isn't true in the broader sense of possibilities. Several games that have become Epic exclusives, were advertised/ crowdfunded/ preordered with the expectation that they would be available on Steam (or GOG) at launch and are now ONLY available on Epic's store for the next year. So there is nothing intrinsically stopping PGI from going exclusive. Tho I think a multi platform release (steam GOG Epic) is the way to go and the smart play with customers. The Workshop could also be part of MW5 staying on Steam.

[MeiSooHaityu]

At first I was mostly against having to install yet another launcher, however over time I have learned to hate other aspects of the Epic Store (issues much more important than my unwillingness to invest in another store).

The Epic Store is barely functional. It launched with bare minimal functionality and according to it's roadmap, it won't even come close to Steam for at least a year from the time of this post. Overall the store launched way before it was ready.

It has also been said that the CEO talked about how the industry (developers/publishers) will determine the outcome of this store war and not the consumer. This to me explains why the store is sub par. The company doesn't want to cater to the consumer, only the publishers. It basically has the attitude of...If we have all the games, people will have to come to us. It's a bullying tactic, and one that is ingenious but at the same time very greasy. This leads to...

The store has also signed exclusivity deals which in general doesn't sit well with me. To make matters worse, they have signed these deals with a few companies that have already promised games to Steam users. Metro Exodus was a high profile one, but at least they honored pre-orders on Steam. Games like Phoenix Point actually promissed a Steam launch in their Kickstarter and then yanked it away. When people brought this up to the dev, they were met with...It's still coming on Epic, but if you don't like it, we will give you a refund.

A refund? As a person who backed HBS's BattleTech on Kickstarter, I have experienced the anticipation for a product I helped back and was very excited over those years of development to give it a try, so I know how the Phoenix Point backers must have felt. If at the end of the wait the company said...new terms, and if you don't like it, we will give you your money back, I would be crushed. This is some slimy stuff (Epic and the Publisher).

Lastly, and most importantly, Epic's feature devoid store also makes me question it's security and ability to protect account information. Fortnite has had account breaches in the past, and it is only about 2 years old. With no features put into the store, I have questions about how much money they actually put into securing their servers. On top of that, if my account is stolen, I question how much of a headache it will be to get it back. In the several years I have used Steam, I have had zero issues with account security.

TL;DR

Epic's Store just isn't ready for consumers, it is lacking way too much functionality. It uses tactics to bully people to the platform instead of making a competing platform, it has questionable security, and overall doesn't seem to have the consumer's interest in mind at all.

Ideally, I hope PGI releases it over all platforms. [/color]If god forbid MW5 does sign an "exclusivity" deal with Epic, it allows for PGI to sell/distribute the finished game on their own as well (similar to U-Play Store for Division 2). If this game goes soley Epic, I don't know what I will do. It won't be going to Epic though.

Edited by MeiSooHaityu, 28 March 2019 - 06:55 AM.

[Horseman]

Nightbird, on 28 March 2019 - 06:25 AM, said:

Given we're receiving a steam key for the MW5 pre-order, there's 0 chance it'll be exclusive to another platform.

IIRC it happened to another game - preorders got Steam keys, everyone else has to use Epic's platform.

[Nightbird]

Horseman, on 28 March 2019 - 06:58 AM, said:

IIRC it happened to another game - preorders got Steam keys, everyone else has to use Epic's platform.

Which is fine since everyone who cares this early on has a pre-order, otherwise have fun on Epic

[Wolfos31]

Horseman, on 28 March 2019 - 06:58 AM, said:

IIRC it happened to another game - preorders got Steam keys, everyone else has to use Epic's platform.

I remember this happening as well. It was for Metro: Exodus. It makes me glad I pre-ordered for the Steam key. I don't mind if it's available on multiple platforms, but don't lock me into a launcher that I didn't sign up for. Hopefully PGI sees this topic and takes notice.

[Brizna]

This topic has been very helpful, I honestly hadn't considered what platform would MW5 be released in and I was pondering to buy MW5 sometime this month. But, I am an anti DRM guy, I will never allow companies to track me or survey me in any way and much less if they plan to bloat the hardware I paid for while doing it. I don't use Steam because of that, and from what I read in this topic it seams I will never use Epic either. I only buy games that are either sold directly by the developer (MWO i.e.) or from platforms such as GOG. Anyone who doesn't publish DRM free doesn't have me in his potential customer list.

[Sjorpha]

Epic makes exclusivity deals with game studios, they can't force a game to be released on Epic or prevent it from Steam release unless the owner of the game is in on it.

In other words it's entirely up to PGI on what platforms they release MW5 on, if it were to become Epic exclusive that would be because Epic offers them a shitload of money to make it so and they accept.

That exactly what happened with Metro. IMO you can't really blame a new digital store for wanting to make as many exclusivity deals as possible because that's their only way to compete until they mature into a true rival to Steam. If anyone is scummy in these situations it's the developers who first promises release on some platform(s) and then signs a deal that breaks that promise, they are the ones treating their customers and backers like ****, not Epic.