Valve will offer more money for Successful Games

When you sell your game on Valve, the company takes 30 percent of your revenue for using it as a platform for distribution. It’s a common practice for business such as PlayStation and Xbox but Valve has been criticized lately for their user review system and lack of marketing support for new games. Steam is packed with thousands of games and nearly impossible to filter through them all. It’s difficult for developers to sell their game if they don’t understand Steam’s algorithms. They weren’t able to contact a Valve personal support and developers felt that the company didn’t “deserve” the 30 percent in revenue. To potentially earn developers’ trust again, Valve is offering them more money based on the success of their games.

Stated on November 30th, Valve stated

Starting from October 1, 2018 (i.e. revenues prior to that date are not included), when a game makes over $10 million on Steam, the revenue share for that application will adjust to 75%/25% on earnings beyond $10M. At $50 million, the revenue share will adjust to 80%/20% on earnings beyond $50M. Revenue includes game packages, DLC, in-game sales, and Community Marketplace game fees. Our hope is this change will reward the positive network effects generated by developers of big games, further aligning their interests with Steam and the community.

Valve is also allowing developers to speak about their game sale on Steam.

Image result for steam indie games

Who does this benefit?

A lot of big brand name titles such as Fallout or Call of Duty will see bigger profit margins. However, smaller companies and developers will still have difficulties presenting their games to a mass audience. There are too many games on Steam, especially because any game can be on their market.

The changes are to incentivize more companies to put their games on PC only through Steam. With more companies hosting their own platforms such as Blizzard’s BattleNet, Ubisoft’s Uplay, EA’s Origin, and Discord, Valve has more competition. While their competitors have less selection, it’s easier to search and find a game you enjoy.

Origin Logo

The profit changes won’t hurt Valve too bad. It’s rare for a title to make that much on Steam alone unless you’re a huge publisher. The mass majority won’t even make $10 million but bigger companies may just place their games on Steam to save money.

Sources

Steam Changes Announcement

What Games are allowed on Steam?

Polygon

Polygon 2

 

Games Done Quick bans Participants for Sexist and Transphobic comments

If you’re on the internet, just assume everything you type or say will be saved or be brought against you. Recently, GDQ (Games Done Quick) has banned participants regarding sexists comments in a private Discord. Games Done Quick is an event where people gather to beat a game as fast as possible. Andrea, a speedrunner, posted on Twitter comments from the Discord by speedrunners R. White Goose and Graviton.

R. White Goose is famous for his speedruns in Super Mario 64 and GoldenEye. Graviton was famous for Doom 64, Goldeneye, and Pilotwings 64. Graviton was scheduled to play Doom 64 at GDQ in January.

Initially, GDQ stated on Twitter that they would not remove the players from their events. Many people were angry over GDQ’s decisions to not Goose and Graviton.  Comments such as “Extremely disappointed that Games Done Quick doesn’t feel that this warrants a serious investigation.” With the comments against GDQ, the organization has now stated:

“After receiving additional information on the situation that was brought to our attention today, we were able to confirm the authenticity of the screenshots we received,” the organization said. “As such, the people in question will not be representing us at any GDQ events indefinitely.”

While specifically banned people aren’t stated, Goose has stated ““Those screenshots show conversations which contain hurtful concepts, ideas, and conspiracy theories which I have come to fully and completely reject. What I’ve said in the past is indefensible and inexcusable. I completely understand why people are hurt and angry, and the reaction to my comments is absolutely justified.” He has not done a run at GDQ since 2014.

Graviton had a different response:

Always be cautious of what you say on the internet because people have different opinions; especially if you’re a famed figure.

Source:

Kotaku

 

 

How to get in Red Dead Online

Red Dead Redemption 2’s multiplayer beta is being released November 27th called Red Dead Online. If you want to play the demo, it will depend on your purchase of Red Dead Redemption 2.

  • If you bought Ultimate Edition, it is accessible at 8:30 ET on Nov 27.
  • If you bought RDR2 on its first day and played it between Oct 26 – 29, you’ll be able to play it on Nov 29th.
  • For everyone else, it will be available on Friday, Nov 30th.

According to Rockstar, it will be “an evolution of the classic multiplayer experience from the original Red Dead Redemption.” It can be played solo or with friends. You can also form a posse up to 8 players.

Kingdom Hearts 3 goes Gold!

For anybody unfamiliar with the term “Going Gold,” it essentially means that the game is finished and ready to launch. Kingdom Hearts 3 is finally ready to launch January 29th. How long have you been waiting?