But that’s not anti-consumer at all, if anything that’s pro-consumer because they’re ensuring that the price they see on Steam is comparable to the price elsewhere, so if you prefer buying from Steam, you don’t have to worry that a studio is fleecing you.
Why would a retailer permit a company to use it’s marketing and distribution network while actively steering customers away from its storefront? That’s not a great business relationship. The alternative would be Valve charging for keys sold outside of Steam, and that seems like an even worse policy.
Price fixing is extremely anti-consumer. They’re not ensuring the price is lower on Steam, they’re ensuring that it’s higher everywhere else. Having a higher price than competing stores doesn’t have to steer people away from your own if you offer a better service but Valve isn’t willing to do that so they screw the consumer instead.
But that’s not anti-consumer at all, if anything that’s pro-consumer because they’re ensuring that the price they see on Steam is comparable to the price elsewhere, so if you prefer buying from Steam, you don’t have to worry that a studio is fleecing you.
Why would a retailer permit a company to use it’s marketing and distribution network while actively steering customers away from its storefront? That’s not a great business relationship. The alternative would be Valve charging for keys sold outside of Steam, and that seems like an even worse policy.
Price fixing is extremely anti-consumer. They’re not ensuring the price is lower on Steam, they’re ensuring that it’s higher everywhere else. Having a higher price than competing stores doesn’t have to steer people away from your own if you offer a better service but Valve isn’t willing to do that so they screw the consumer instead.