Yeah, my expectation would be that any games developed by a 3rd party will wind up on steam. Nobody wants to be windows store exclusive when they're getting paid royalties. Unfortunately for MS, they rely heavily on contracted developers like this
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Jez Corden (Windows Central): Halo Wars 2 is coming to Steam
- Thread starter Chobel
- Start date
Yeah, my expectation would be that any games developed by a 3rd party will wind up on steam. Nobody wants to be windows store exclusive when they're getting paid royalties. Unfortunately for MS, they rely heavily on contracted developers like this
Yea, and given that Sega/CA were involved, it would make sense if they wanted to recoup some money and asked MS for a Steam version.
Games developed via MS 1st-party studios (Forza/Gears) will probably remain W10 exclusive then.
Fata1moose
Banned
Halo 6 on Steam?
Not going to happen.
Not going to happen.
SmoothRunningGun
Member
Bingo
spazchicken
Member
Is Gears 4 also coming to Steam?
Those two are all I want from the MS store right now.
Those two are all I want from the MS store right now.
BleedOrange
Banned
Could be the Ubisoft model?
Purchasable on any digital storefront but it still requires authentication with Xbox Live services (a'la UPlay).
This would force their digital storefront (Microsoft Store) to be competitive, while allowing the user to buy where they want.
You must get the info sir! For everyone!
I've been saying from the off that Microsoft will eventually let the other shoe mostly drop and release its WinStore games on Steam with Uplayesque Xbox App integration, minus the Play Anywhere perk (the WinStore does need to have a feather in its cap, after all). Halo Wars 2 seems like a good a starting point as any.
If nothing else, Microsoft has to realise that Quantum Break and now Halo Wars: DE have set a precedent. Many people waved away the Steam release of the former as a contractual wrinkle owing to the fact that Remedy is a third-party development partner, but the same can't be said of the latter and 343i. Some wheels are definitely turning. What path that cart is taking remains to be seen, however I'm fairly confident that Microsoft has finally realised that attempting to force people to use something they'd rather avoid is largely ineffective. I mean, an Xbox gamer taking advantage of their complimentary WinStore copy doesn't actually help the service gain traction within the PC DD space, and that's chiefly who the WinStore appeals to -- people who are already members of the ecosystem, not those entrenched elsewhere.
To be perfectly honest, I'm of the opinion that GFWL was Microsoft's one and only shot at crippling Steam and it screwed the pooch utterly. Today's WinStore push is too little -- it's literally still fundamentally flawed as a content delivery service -- too late. If you'll excuse the flowery prose, Microsoft is pushing a rock nobody who primarily games on the PC actually wants up a hill that Valve has been comfortably sitting atop of for years, and for good reason: Steam continually improves whereas the WinStore is still as unreliable as it was when Rise of the Tomb Raider launched well over a year ago.
Delusibeta
Banned
If CD Projekt Red could do link together Steamworks with their own network (or, more to the point, Psyonix with both Steam, Xbox Live and PSN), I can't see any practical reason why Microsoft couldn't do it. They're not exactly lacking on the manpower front.
Plus, I totally would rebuy Forza Horizon 3 to get it on a platform that's not hell to download large games from.
Give us Recore, Forza, and Gears as well. I'd like to support those games, but not UWP.
Maxey
Member
It might happen if they want to sell a significant amount of PC copies.
hanspampel
Banned
Don't believe it.
All that MTX money and Microsoft is willing to give Valve 30% of that?
Hmm let's see
All that MTX money and Microsoft is willing to give Valve 30% of that?
Hmm let's see
BleedOrange
Banned
You don't support... an API?
Not this one, no.
Chobel
Member
I'm sure MS would rather have 70% of something over 100% of nothing.
theviolenthero
Member
Phil Spencer has done numerous interviews stating that they will bring 1st party games to Steam. Them supporting Steam is old news.
http://www.pcgamer.com/phil-spencer-says-microsoft-will-ship-games-on-steam-again/
http://www.pcgamer.com/phil-spencer-says-microsoft-will-ship-games-on-steam-again/
rokkerkory
Member
Good stuff more folks can play.
Been looking forward to more recent and well done halo ports myself. Good news all around.
Only, they've been peddling the ever-shitty Windows Store for their major releases. Steam should be the way to go.
TheUnsunghero26
Member
I wonder if they'll eventually make an Xbox/Win10 overlay for Steam like Ubisoft does. I think Play Anywhere is awesome, but I bet the PC only crowd generally sticks to Steam. I think Sea of Thieves in particular would really benefit from a Steam release.
xxMaximusxx
Banned
That's great - just PLEASE make sure cross-play is available with windows store users and steam.
I love HW2 but its currently dead on WS. And I bought the ultimate edition. If this isn't cross-play like they did with Halo Wars Definitive edition i'll make sure i never buy another game ever from the windows store
I love HW2 but its currently dead on WS. And I bought the ultimate edition. If this isn't cross-play like they did with Halo Wars Definitive edition i'll make sure i never buy another game ever from the windows store
Play anywhere is useless for a pc gamer so yeah sea of thieves would definitely do great on Steam.
LiquidSolid
Member
Yeah, back then Microsoft actually had a lot of leverage and a lot of third parties were pretty naive about Steam, so they could pull in major third parties like Capcom, Bandai Namco, WB, etc. Nowadays they've lost all that leverage and those third parties love Steam, so it's an impossible sell.
Raylan Targaryen
Member
Most companies like money, why keep it exclusive?
Hopefully those games also end up on Steam. I already own them on the Windows Store but Gears is dead and cross play is taking too damn long
Rodney McKay
Member
I know, I just feel like more of these Play Anywhere games are unfortunately doing the "no cross store multiplayer" thing lately, or maybe I'm just noticing it more from GAF threads...
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
It's just to support Play Anywhere. You can't really do that on Steam unless Microsoft somehow updates the Xbox One to cooperate with Steam.
Because you are a sap like me...
Caffeine
Member
but they could though link xbox live account with steam account sony did something like that with portal 2 ?
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
Yeah but right now isn't it only for save files?
pretty done
Member
They should bring ReCore as well
Caffeine
Member
ye it was just cloud saves, but technically speaking a form of the tech is there just valve and microsoft need to come to an agreement.
I would like many of the games to appear, the only reason i havent bought recore yet is because I expected it to show up lol
The W10 Store doesn't exist to support Play Anywhere, Play Anywhere exists to support the W10 Store.
Forerunner
Member
I'll definitely double dip if it doesn't allow for Steam and WS cross play. The game is pretty much dead on WS. At least with the Steam version there will be somewhat of a community. That's why I hate getting games on WS, shit is dead within weeks.
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
Technically Play Anywhere exists to support W10 on Xbox One.
How so?
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
Encourages console users to buy the games digitally on the store, which is still their storefront. Get users used to digital content and play anywhere.
As someone who bought the games on that store because I like the games more than I hate or have issues with the market place this is great news for everyone. They just need to fix it so that both sides can play with each other like the uPlay client.
And everyone on W10 got that Xbox app by default so it can't be that difficult to implement it as a launcher.
Halo Wars 2 is a great game and all their UWP releases have been great on PC with a lot of options and I'd like that to continue with more choice as where to purchase it, if only for exposure.
That way you just redeem it on the Xbox app and that's about it.
And everyone on W10 got that Xbox app by default so it can't be that difficult to implement it as a launcher.
Halo Wars 2 is a great game and all their UWP releases have been great on PC with a lot of options and I'd like that to continue with more choice as where to purchase it, if only for exposure.
Actually you can buy games digitally for Xbox/PC from keysites that also sell steam copies for good prices as they are play anywhere.
That way you just redeem it on the Xbox app and that's about it.
Users already buy games in consoles digitally in ever growing numbers. The point of Play Anywhere is to encourage W10 Store useage so that they will hopefully spend more there.
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
It's all interconnected regardless.
FearlessBelgian
Member
The beginning of the end for the Windows Store ? I hope.
superNESjoe
Member
Great now bring Gears 4 to Steam because I can't even update or play it anymore because Win10Store is trash.
MosquitoSmasher
Member
This is a good move by MS. I wonder if this means we'll be seeing lots more of their games on Steam from now on. Didn't they also bring QB to Steam?
Alexander DeLarge
Member
Why not? I think you guys really overestimate how much Microsoft cares about keeping up appearances regarding their platform.
This. People go out of their way to not use the Microsoft Store.
Banjo-Kazooie
Member
Expecting Recore Definitive Edition to get a Steam release also
Dee Dah Dave
Member
It still baffles me why they haven't pushed the Xbox App for their PC game delivery, instead of making people trawl through the Win store.
The Xbox App has the correct 'gamey' feel to it and can be further expanded in feature set to make it more attractive. Get gamers thinking they are double clicking their way into a game environment, same as the Steam icon does. Because the Win store and all that it contains certainly doesn't feel that way.
The Xbox App has the correct 'gamey' feel to it and can be further expanded in feature set to make it more attractive. Get gamers thinking they are double clicking their way into a game environment, same as the Steam icon does. Because the Win store and all that it contains certainly doesn't feel that way.