>wants to play game
>installs unrelated piece of software
>creates account for unrelated piece of software
>can finally play game

Do PC gamers still think this DRM launcher makes their gaming experience more convenient, or are we finally past that?

I made the account 20 years ago

Still upset that the only game worth playing is Deltarune and if the Jannies nuke it you'll have nothing anyone wants to discuss?

>>712776498 (OP)
>install game
>launch game
>running install script
>installing .NET framework v2.1.3A
>launch game

>install another game
>launch game
>running install script
>installing .NET framework v2.1.3A1
>launch game
>this game requires a 90TB update

>install another game
>running installing script
>installing anticheat software
>installing .NET framework v2.1a.3.A

WHY THE FUCK

>>712776858
I get sunken cost reasons for sticking around. What I don't get is trying to claim it makes the experience more convenient, which was the go-to for years.

what's really annoying is when steam is chained to rockstar launcher so now there's two layers of software and accounts to access the game

>buy console
>register an account
>need to be online
>need to pay to be online
>have inferior performance
>say bad word you have been warned in a million ways not to say
>console stolen

>>712776498 (OP)
Show me on this doll where did Steam hurt you

>>712777138
Account registration is only required on Xbox. Even the Switch 2 has an offline profile option, despite claims to the contrary. If you're like me and only care about singleplayer and local multiplayer then you're fine, excluding patches or DLC.

>>712777256
It touched me where I pee. :(

>be PC gamer
>can play game on one monitor
>can have shit going on the other

>can't do that on console

>go to Gamestop
>Gamestop only stocks Console games, Gamestop stocks NO pc games except for those 30 year old Warcraft Warchests that are covered in more dust than a library book
>buy Used console game for $55 (New games costs $60)
>literally stole from the publishers & developers since Used game sales earn them $0
>pretend to be moral and "support the Industry" because you gave fucking Gamestop money for no reason
>money stolen

>>712776498 (OP)
>>712776498 (OP)
Gamers are the dumbest people alive anon

>>712776498 (OP)
>be 2003
>want to play game
>go to store
>sold out
>go to another store
>sold out
>go to another store
>buy game + tip + tax
>install it
>play multiplayer
>out of date please update game
>go on the web
>search for ages for the correct patch
>found it
>download it 5 hours remaining
>Install patch
>out of date

>>712777856
Worked fine for me just don't be retarded

>>712777856
>be 2025
>GOG
>[totally legal downloads for free elsewhere]

imagine needing to turn on your computer to play games

>>712778387
IMAGINE BEING AT COMPUTERS

>>712776498 (OP)
>click INSTALL
>wait a bit
>click PLAY
>play game
How could this get any easier?

>>712777856
you forgot the DRM being literal malware

>>712776498 (OP)
>already have account because I created one for HL2 over 20 years ago
>already have it on my computer
Literally a a (you) problem. Also most of the discs for my extremely old games are long gone. One of the down sides to spending most of your life constantly moving. Movers are basically always guaranteed to steal some shit and break some other shit including vidya gaems. I remember one move the movers fucking crushed my copies of Far Cry, BF1942, and BF Vietnam by throwing them in a box and then throwing my dad's entire fucking free weight set in the box RIGHT ON FUCKING TOP OF THEM

>>712780470
As I said in response to another anon, there are non-DRM digital options available today. Back that shit up and you should be good.

>>712776498 (OP)
>installs game
>play
i dont know what aaa multyplayer slop you guys are playing

>>712777052
What is the alternative? What would downloading a game look like if steam wasn't around? Describe it in the same detail as you described it in your OP

>>712776498 (OP)
I buy games on steam then download the same game via torrents and play the torrent version instead because it's easier and I don't have to deal with steam. Or sometimes I'll torrent it first if I'm not sure if the game is any good, then buy it later.

>>712776498 (OP)
Steam is a service that does far more good than harm. It saved PC gaming and now makes consoles look lime a joke, prove me wrong.

>>712782113
>want to play game
>go to GOG
>DRM-free download
>can instantly play game

>>712782445
So why is having to make an account and having to go to a website/open an app every time you need to get a new game only a negative for steam?

>>712776498 (OP)
>wants to play game
>creates account for playing physical game
>needs to select a gender for unrelated piece of account

>>712782445
>want to play game
>go to GOG
>game is not on GOG

I actually went to GOG today to see what games they had available and their selection of modern games is pretty much inexistent, I was genuinely surprised that Cyberpunk was listed. On the other hand, they have the original Resident Evil trilogy and Silent Hill 4 adapted for modern machines, so I'll buy those later.

>look for Swashbuckler Edition™ of game
>download
>while downloading look at pcgamingwiki
>download
>install
>install
>play game
inb4 muh malware
no

>>712782579
You don't need to download GOG. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but you can buy games on GOG just with your Google account you likely already have.

>>712782747
>I was genuinely surprised that Cyberpunk was listed
well, CD Projekt owns GOG

>>712782747
>their selection of modern games is pretty much inexistent
>I was genuinely surprised that Cyberpunk was listed
lel

>>712782445
you missed the installers and the additional steps for multiplayer games
steamworks doesn't grow on trees

>>712782889
Cyberpunk is not that old...
>almost 5 years old

Oh god...

>>712778387
>imagine needing to turn on your computer to play games
Agreed, console players should touch grass and play games IRL instead of turning on their gay little specialized toy computers

>>712782990
>Cyberpunk is not that old...
i was laughing at your retardation for not knowing CDPR own GOG which is an acronym for Good Old Games, but it was probably a shitpost anyway

>>712782818
This is what happens when you try to buy a game, though. The only difference is that the process of making an account is expedited by 30 seconds by clicking the google login button instead of typing your email and confirming it. I'd wager most people also use some software to keep their library organized and keep track of what they download, which steam does well essentially (it could be better). Plus, Steam offers a lot of tools for developers to support their games' multiplayer aspects. What you're saying only really works if we stick to purely singleplayer games.

>>712777052
it does
game updates automatically, my friends use it and I can join them
no subscription fee to use 100% of the features

>install game on steam
>the devs are cocksuckers so epic games trash has to install
>psn shit has to install
>this is steams fault somehow

do you remember when we couldn't play the game unless the CD was in the disc drive
or trying to play multiplayer but the game was out of date so you had to go download the patch manually
but actually you were about 4 versions behind so you had to manually download each patch and update it in order

>>712783213
Fair enough, I'll give you that. But I'll stand by a prior reply about "alternative free downloads".

>being tech literate is now bad
do amerimutts really?

>>712777052
>What I don't get is trying to claim it makes the experience more convenient
I get to keep my games and saves when I change computers, it doesn't get more convenient than that

>>712783656
>I get to keep my games
Backups, my friend. Backups.

>bought game on Steam 15 years ago
>can still play it to this day

>bought game on Ps3
>unavailable on Ps4 or Ps5

>bought game on Nintendo's virtual console
>unavailable on Switch or Switch 2

Yeah.... steam's looking like the lesser of the evils here.

steam will shut down any day now

right?

>>712776498 (OP)
>unrelated
Extremely related, since it handles the purchase and download of the game, and keeping the game updated. Optionally it also has a lot more like developer communication via news posts, multiplayer matchmaking and server hosting, mod browsing and downloading, community guides, controller layouts, etc.

>>712783714
>Backups
>Just copy-paste save data for hundreds of games onto a flash drive dude, it's way better

>>712776498 (OP)
>Makes their gaming experience more convenient
Steam doing things like fixing controller support (and general input mapping) across games is an undeniable advantage.
There have been games I've tried to play on game pass that are outright unplayable with certain controllers.

>>712776498 (OP)
there's no DRM on steam, why are people spreading this misinformation all of a sudden? very curious. wish we could see flags on /v/ lol

>>712783894
>Just copy-paste save data for hundreds of games onto a flash drive dude, it's way better
It's worth noting that only PC gamers seem to have this problem. You guys grab literally anything that goes on sale, even if it's the lowest variety of shovelware. You don't need Putty Girl Pantsu Party 4, yet you'll buy it anyway because it's only $1.00.

>>712784076
Try deleting it and see if your installed games run without being cracked.

>>712784202
Heaven forbid games not cost 90 dollars. I've bought tons of games on sale for 99 cents that I ended up loving.

>>712784076
don't you know devs choosing to put drm in their games and steam warning customers of that is bad

>>712784293
Alot of games don't even need to be cracked.

https://steam.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_DRM-free_games

>>712784293
that's up to the devs? there are plenty of games on steam that you can play by just opening the exe straight from the install folder

>>712784386
I stand corrected then.

>>712784293
I completed Grounded when it was on a free weekend. Just launch the exe lol.
I play that game for a month lol.

>>712780757
Steam is not DRM. Valve offers steamworks DRM to publishers, but this is optional. There are games you can buy and download through steam that do not require steam to be running to launch.

>>712777131
Rockstar is the only company that worth doing it with really. IMO.

>>712785553
why?

I'm personally just about over steam. I think I'm going to start avoiding henceforth. Definitely not installing it on my linux machine.

>>712776498 (OP)
>doesn't have Steam account already
>doesn't have Steam installed already
Do you even game, bro?

>>712782818
Don't use your Google account retard

>>712782445
>want to play game
>go to GOG
>create an account for an unrelated service
>add my credit card to unrelated service
>DRM-free download
>can instantly play game
fixed it for you, NIGGER

>>712789286
>want to play game
>go to GOG
>they don't have the game, because the publisher doesn't want to release it on GOG
>look for another game
>find game
>rent game on GOG
>have to either use a web browser to access my library or use a web browser embedded in a client to access my library
Why am I not just using Steam again? At least it actually has games and has small mode.

>>712782113
You'd be sent an email with the links that would expire in a month.

>>712776498 (OP)
Yes because the alternative was CDs or cracks.

>>712784202
What a retard
>>712776498 (OP)
I think steam is garbage nu social media dog shit for retards but the actual platform itself is sincerely better than the alternative. Valves exclusive games go on sale for a dollar regularly. Left 4 dead, half life, portal. That would never happen with shitendo or snoyny because they dont actually care about having a good on boarding process for their platforms. You pay for their shit & you will like it. 3rd parties are cheaper on pc. Now if you really want to shit on steam you would complain about the lack of complete editions or 15 year old games where you have to buy each individual expansion. Instead you chose to be a faggot & cry about the fact that accounts which take less than a minute to type info for by anyone that has touched a keyboard for more than 10 minutes in the year of our lord. Way to oust yourself as a retard

>>712789532
>What a retard
Putty Girl Pantsu Party fan detected. They've been trash since 2. Get over it and find other pantsu games.

>>712789164
>Do you even game, bro?
I'm about 95% a console peasant. If I am using my PC for gaming it's something that doesn't require another service, be it abandonware like the Marathon trilogy or emulation. I'm dying on physical media hill.