this post was submitted on 30 May 2024
673 points (99.4% liked)
Steam
10301 readers
3 users here now
Steam is a video game digital distribution service by Valve.
Steam News | Steam Beta Client news
Useful tools:
SteamDB
SteamCharts
Issue tracker for Linux version of Steam
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Pretty sure generating buttloads of steam keys for resale on a different platform to keep valve from taking their 30% is a violation of steam's TOS?
Nope. There's rules about pricing parity but you can generate and sell as many of your own keys as you want.
You can't actually, they won't let you generate more keys if you sell fewer units through Steam directly (probably not 1:1, they don't state precise numbers as it's up to their discretion).
Here's the relevant part of their website for reference:
I find it hard to believe Sony would run afoul of these guidelines. I'm not sure what they mean by "if your sole business is selling steam keys". Maybe referring to shovelware 'developers' that use steam for laundering money, if I had to guess.
Parity in this case would likely mean nearly everyone just buys directly from steam. No doubt Sony would infect the gaming process by injecting their launcher no matter what you do, but steam will get their 30%.
I don't know what Sony could offer on their own storefront that plays well with parity rules to make people choose it over steam.
But the thought of them operating their own store front and offering steam keys with every sale won't happen. Valve have stopped that in the past.
When? Who did they stop?
But Sony would run afoul of these guidelines.
How so?
Greedy company choking on itself in every possible way? Sony is known for that.
That's... Not an answer at all.
Can I refer you to this article, that we are commenting under? For an example?