Will Elite Dangerous Launch on Steam?

[Slade]

I used to be opposed to Steam, but I gave it a try and now I think it's awesome. There are many games that you can get both ways, through Steam or direct from the publisher. Maybe Elite could be one of those that works either way. I know Steam takes a cut of the profits, but perhaps those would be made up for through increased visibility and sales I found out about this game through a forum post on Steam for one of the games I currently play. The poster was using a video from Elite to make a point about what is possible in a game and in UI design.

I sure wish I knew about this game while the Kickstarter campaign was active. As an adolescent kid I played Elite so much back in 1984 on my Commodore 64 and would have gladly been one of these backers today had I known about it (Hint - Even though it is probably impossible, I would still pay to become this today if given the chance...and I see there are slots that never got sold):

Pledge £1,500 or more

16 backers Limited (9 left of 25)

Be a “Commander Jameson” - have a reserved commander name* xxxx Jameson (eg Commander Peter Jameson etc) – first come first served on the forenames - plus all rewards above.

Estimated delivery: Mar 2014​

Pledge £3,000 or more

7 backers Limited (8 left of 15)

Have a frontier star system named* after you, and a 'special thanks' game credit, plus all rewards above.

Estimated delivery: Mar 2014​

 

[Rabcor]

I really hope this game will be on Steam, I actually think it needs the exposure. Like others have said there are mountains of people who have no idea what Elite is. Hell, I was one of them last year and I've been gaming like my life depended on it since 2000. Never heard a word about Elite till somewhere on the Star Citizen forums, by now I'm more hyped for Elite than for SC too! can't wait for second round beta!

I have a lot of friends who have been gaming just as much as me for just as long as me, none of them knew this game either, and we live next door to GB in Iceland (although ironically enough while you brits were playing elite across the ocean we were still upgrading from houses made of stacked rocks with grass for roof to concrete ones with metal plating on the roof. Talk about greener grass over there! of course I wasn't born till 93 though, gaming didn't become a thing here till mid 90s, I can still remember the first time I saw a video game, it was like nothing I'd ever seen before! My dad managed to borrow an old nintendo and played mario on our relic of a TV, next game I remember was Tomb Raider on the PS1)

My point is, the current generation of gamers born between the 90s and 2000 or so have never heard about this game. If a game is on Steam, everyone knows about it. Most of the people gathered here are a lot older than me, amirite? This is not because Elite is only interesting to middle aged people who want some nostalgia, it's because todays kids don't know it exists.

Games like Crysis can have been the first game modern gamers ever saw. Games like Oblivion, World of Warcraft (which I admit is far from new and far from good), Halo 3 or Need for Speed Most Wanted can have been the first games a piece of the audience for this game ever played. They might not have started gaming till 2007 or even 2010!

 

[MentaListo]

I've got the launcher in Steam and a lot of friends use it. Integration would be a plus, especially when Console versions are released.

 

[Rabcor]

I just want Linux version! Steam Machines 8)

Like hell, I'm dying for it. (And not cus of steam machines but cus I hate windows and I hate OS X a 1000 times more)

 

[Tek]

Steam would be nice but how much of a cut would they take from the sales?

 

[Completely Harmless]

As long as there are other option beside Steam I could not care less if it was on Steam.

But if I see a game I like I always check if it is available outside of Steam, such as GOG, or any other place that does not require third-party software (Origins or Ubiplay, ugh, that is what Steam started...). GOG.com rules.

Plus I rather give more money directly to Frontier Developments then a distributor since I'm not rich.

 

[Toumal]

Steam would be nice but how much of a cut would they take from the sales?

Depends on the contract. Most games get quite considerably more expensive, which is why Steam is often more expensive than other places, even during the much-heralded "Summer Sales".

 

[GeoGonzo]

Steam would be nice but how much of a cut would they take from the sales?

30% from each purchase, I believe. No idea how it is done if you want to integrate existing keys into their system, though.

 

[Juniper]

30% from each purchase, I believe. No idea how it is done if you want to integrate existing keys into their system, though.

Usually you have a separate key... at least that's how it's handled with other games like 'X'. You would provide your existing key to Frontier, and they would issue you with a Steam key. They've already said you can install on as many clients as you want (including Mac etc) with a single key, but only one client can be used at a time per key. This is a key (sic) feature of Steam also.

BTW, I don't think anyone is suggesting it should be a Steam exclusive game. That would be silly (also unnecessary as FD already have their own distribution platform). But it would be equally silly to ignore 60 million potential sales, even if Steam does take 30%.

70% of something is more than 100% of nothing. Plus FD can make the money back in other ways, like microtransactions in-game.

 

[Gaius Baltar]

bump!Ok, I'm definitely in, I bought also the lifepass. Now, my question: could I really imagine that Frontier won't share a key steam when the game will be on the platform?

 

[Biffa]

Steam is super useful to quickly get hold of games but terrible if you need any support help, they're arrogant and dismissive with their customers as you'd expect from somebody who's currently dominating the market. Using them for micro-transactions would be inviting disaster because they have a blatant disregard for your money once it's in their pockets.

Steam would naturally expose the game to far more players but I think the combination could also do serious harm to all the efforts that the guys here are putting into what we are experiencing as the Frontier brand.

 

[Zak Gordon]

Steam is Evil.

David Braben is not Evil.

Some things work well together, but not everything does.

 

[T@F]

Just put it as a non steam game.
The road steam is going down nowadays i really do hope E.D does not go on steam.

 

[Grondane]

I've been through most pages on this thread, and I don't think anyone has posted what is a clear statement of intent by Frontier dating from last year:

Elite: Dangerous will be sold directly to customers through
our own e-commerce platform and through third parties.

This is from the 2013 Annual Report and Accounts (page 8, under Strategic overview and outlook), which is available from this page: http://www.frontier.co.uk/investor_relations/reports/

Direct link: http://www.frontier.co.uk/docs/files/Annual_report_and_accounts_2013-Frontier_Developments_plc.pdf

I reckon that Steam is the main contender here. It might be referring to selling discs through Game, Amazon, etc, but I suspect that Frontier would want to hit Steam first, as the numbers would make most sense.

Hopefully this also reassures some people who don't care for Steam, as it is clear that it is a parallel sales channel.

Personally, I think being on Steam would be an entirely positive step.

 

[Exmortis]

Many people don't know this but if you make them angry they can block you from all your purchased games (if those games require a Steam login). I almost had this happen recently as Steam had sent transactions to my bank as recurring charges when they were in fact point-in-time purchases. The problem was this was my young son's account that I opened for him with only a debit card so he can't overdraw his account. A bank is not allowed to charge overdraft fees for point-in-time purchases but they can for recurring charges.

My son made about 20 micro transactions, all overdrafts, which resulted in a $40 overdraft fee for each one. You do the math. I protested this with my bank and requested they do a chargeback. When I finally spoke with Steam they said any chargeback would result in a complete suspension of his steam acccount.

Steam ended up refunding all the charges and the bank refunded the fees, but this little incident made me realize the power they have over their customers. I don't like it one bit. I've spent close to $2K on games through Steam and have a large library. The thought they could block me from any portion of my games leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

 

[SjadoHawk]

There is no reason legit enough that this game should be on Steam. Steam has pros and cons but does not have anything significant to offer to FD. ED does not need to, nor should it ever, be partnered with Steam. Just makes no sense in doing that.

 

[nats]

There is no reason legit enough that this game should be on Steam. Steam has pros and cons but does not have anything significant to offer to FD. ED does not need to, nor should it ever, be partnered with Steam. Just makes no sense in doing that.

Steam has the flipping biggest possible thing to offer Frontier! Something that no business should turn their back on: a captive interested market of buyers with loads of cash ready to spend. When this game launches on their own platform how many people do you think will even notice? Not many. Unless they get massive coverage in the media. And even then who buys computer magazines any more? I dont. I just go look at Steam and read the forums for my gaming info then I go look at Youtube for Lets plays and reviews. So really Frontier will have a massive struggle in getting this game noticed on release without Steam.

Launching it on Steam will make it instantly available to millions of gamers with loads of money and little sense. Have you seen how many games most of the people have on Steam? And most dont even play half of them. Its a massively effective marketing platform for getting games sold. Frontier would be mad not to put this on Steam.

Anyway I think the whole argument will be moot. I think after a year or two it will be a matter of going to Steam or stopping development. There is no way Frontier will be able to keep this game going for more than a few years on the present business they have - its just a drop in the ocean compared to the market out there. And David Braben knows that full well. I would be extremely surprised if he doesnt take this game to Steam within two years of its release. Like it or not this game is bound for Steam.

 

[nats]

I don't like it one bit. I've spent close to $2K on games through Steam and have a large library. The thought they could block me from any portion of my games leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

Yes its very unpleasant. But not any more unpleasant than having your quality of life messed around on a constant basis by politicians, bosses and bankers. that's what life's like theses days. Money is all important. Might as well get used to it, or become a hermit.

If it ever came down to Steam or no Elite Dangerous which one would you pick?

 

[TerranAmbassador]

If it ever came down to Steam or no Elite Dangerous which one would you pick?

No ED, obviously. You ask like that's a hard question.

Money is all important. Might as well get used to it, or become a hermit.

Or do what I do and simply refuse to so much as touch the service with a ten meter pole.

Or do you classify that as being a hermit?

 

[Robert Maynard]

Yes its very unpleasant. But not any more unpleasant than having your quality of life messed around on a constant basis by politicians, bosses and bankers.

The fundamental difference is that one can choose not to use Steam, unlike the RL examples you gave.