9mo ago

Poland to scrutinize digital game platforms like Steam and PSN on suspicion of anti-competitive practices

gameworldobserver.com Poland to scrutinize digital game platforms like Steam and PSN on suspicion of anti-competitive practices | Game World Observer

Polish regulators have expressed concerns over possible anti-competitive practices by digital video game platforms. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) may initiate proceedings based on the analysis of the collected data.

Poland to scrutinize digital game platforms like Steam and PSN on suspicion of anti-competitive practices | Game World Observer

PC Gaming @lemmy.ca

alessandro @lemmy.ca

9mo ago

Poland to scrutinize digital game platforms like Steam and PSN on suspicion of anti-competitive practices | Game World Observer

gameworldobserver.com /2024/05/14/poland-investigate-steam-psn-anti-competitive-uokik

31 7

Gaming @lemmy.zip

Blxter @lemmy.zip

10mo ago

Poland to scrutinize digital game platforms like Steam and PSN on suspicion of anti-competitive practices

gameworldobserver.com /2024/05/14/poland-investigate-steam-psn-anti-competitive-uokik

28 4

11 comments

I can see an argument for PSN and to a lesser degree Steam being anti-competitive. But from this article they seem to be implying a major point is them being digital markets pushing out "traditional" game sales, which sounds silly to me.
- I've never really understood the need to hold digital sales back to physical goods sales. It's like complaining that Costco is cheaper because it skips the traditional store front.

How Steam?
- Steam is the 800 lb gorilla in the PC gaming sector. It sort of is the biggest offender as far as Poland's argument is concerned.
  
  According to the game sales industry, providing a useful service is anticompetitive behaviour, because you might steal customers from the platforms that are screwing everyone.
- Poland blames steam reviews for cp2077 doing poorly on release, probably.

It's odd that they would mention two competitors in a comment about being anti competitive
- Why is that odd?
  
  Because any competition exists means anticompetitive behaviour doesn't exist... Right?