Randy Pitchford Addresses His Grim Prediction About Steam

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Randy Pitchford Addresses His Grim Prediction About Steam

Key Takeaways

  • Steam’s dominance in the PC gaming market remains strong despite previous predictions of its demise by Randy Pitchford.
  • Gearbox’s stance on Steam has shifted with the announcement of Borderlands 4, now supporting the platform.
  • Randy Pitchford acknowledges his previous misjudgment of Epic’s ability to challenge Steam and hopes for more competition in the future.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I can’t help but feel a mix of amusement and understanding when it comes to Randy Pitchford’s latest about-face on Steam. I remember vividly the days of Borderlands 3 exclusivity on Epic Games Store, which seemed like a brave move at the time, but now feels more like a gamble gone awry.

With the announcement of Borderlands 4, Randy Pitchford has retracted his earlier predictions about Steam’s downfall. Known for making statements that often stir controversy among fans, Pitchford’s focus in the past was on Steam, a platform that has earned widespread respect within the gaming community. It seems that as Borderlands 4 approaches, Gearbox and Pitchford’s viewpoint towards this platform has evolved.

Steam has been the strongest PC gaming platform for a long time now. For many people, the use of Steam has become synonymous with PC gaming, despite alternative platforms like the Xbox Store. This dominance in the gaming market could be regarded as a threat to companies that are vying for the same type of space, like Epic Games, and back in 2019, that was especially the case when Borderlands 3 was announced as an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford gave a fiery defense of the exclusivity when there was pushback, predicting the fall of Steam, but it appears Pitchford considers that a mistake.

Initially skeptical about Steam’s survival, Randy Pitchford has now acknowledged a change of heart following the announcement of Borderlands 4. Gamers swiftly noted the irony of Steam being included in the list of platforms for the game. In response to this, Pitchford shared his thoughts extensively on Twitter, echoing his previous discourse about the Borderlands series. Upon further contemplation, Randy Pitchford admits that Epic Games missed an opportunity to dominate the PC market and challenge Steam’s dominant position in the western market, which he describes as a “monopoly.” As a business leader, he believes it is his responsibility to make decisions that ensure the success of his products.

Randy Pitchford Revisits Stance On Steam

Pitchford seems to express regret, admitting that his expectations for Epic might have been unrealistic or overly positive. He is fully committed to promoting Borderlands 4 on Steam and every other available platform. He acknowledges the internal struggle he faces as a user who appreciates the advantages of Steam/Steam Deck and an executive who recognizes the drawbacks of being overly dependent on such a platform.

Despite admitting that his bet on Epic potentially dominating the PC gaming market might have been misguided, Pitchford remains optimistic about Epic’s continued struggle and progress. He predicts that Epic will offer more compelling reasons for gamers to use their platform, ultimately pushing Steam into competition with genuine alternatives. To conclude, Pitchford, a passionate gamer himself, hints that he intends to be present across all gaming platforms.

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2024-08-23 02:13