I can’t seem to find that one comment explaining the issue with them…
But for the sake of promoting conversation on Lemmy, what’s the issue with Epic, and why should I go for Steam or GoG?
Note: Piracy is not an answer. I understand why, and do agree to a certain extent… But sometimes, the happiness gained by playing something from a legitimate source is far greater 🥹… coming from someone who could never ever afford to purchase games, nor could my parents… Hence I’ve always played bootleg, or pirated games.
TL;DR
What’s wrong?
- Their launcher has a terrible UI AND UX.
- They make exclusive deals with studios to prevent other platforms from getting games. (Someone mentioned that Steam did the same thing in their infancy. Also, I have another question; why is it ok for Sony and Microsoft to make exclusive games for their consoles but not ok for these PC platforms to do so?)
- They have been invested in by a Chinese company, Tencent. (Someone mentioned that it isn’t that big of a deal, but idk.)
- They are actively anti-linux for some reason.
Epic cons:
- Filled to the brim with DRM, at the point where you can’t even launch many singleplayer games offline
- Actively against linux, for some fucking reason
- Bad launcher (but this one is no biggie, you can and should use Heroic launcher instead of the official one)
- Bad store in general compared to steam
- Ties with Tencent (super anti-consumer chinese state-owned megacorp)
Epic pros:
- Free games
- With coupons prices can get VERY low
- When it opened I heard the percent they take from game devs was lower than the other stores (not sure if it’s still the case and tbh if it ever was)
Steam pros:
- Pushing linux gaming like their life depends on it
- Generally correct towards the consumer
- Huge store and many information, from the game store pages to the workshop
- During sales prices are good
Steam cons:
- Drm
- Bad official app Ux and messy ui
Gog
I don’t know anything besides the fact that it has drm-free games and that it’s owned by CDPR (the guys who developed the witcher series and cyberpunk)
I personally purchase my games on steam, since I think their contribution to linux gaming is crucial for linux to go mainstream
Choose what you will knowing this. If someone else wants to add something to this list you’re welcome to do so.
I’m guessing I still need the Epic Games Launcher to use the Unreal Engine? That means no Heroic for me :(
Also Gogs Launcher, similar to Heroic, can be linked to your other platforms, which means you could unify all your games in the Gog Launcher. But my experience with it a few years ago was, that the connections break regularly.
I don’t think Steam as an application is particularly great, but why does the Epic Games Launcher need GPU acceleration? It’s just an application for a storefront that launches executables.
Couple of years back I had a Surface Book 2 (one of those with a dedicated GPU in the keyboard) and if I detached the screen the launcher ran like shit (because the screen only has onboard graphics).
Disclaimer: I do not play multiplayer/Co-op. I do not use Steam’s community features, or any community features/social media features.
I do not want to put all my games in one basket, so if Steam has a hiccup I can’t play and welcome multiple clients, because one always works. I also prefer DRM free games that I can download the installer for, so I can still install a new game when my internet is down , but not for all games that is an option.
That said: I buy where the game is the cheapest. I also get all the free games (not the F2P, but the ones that usually cost money) on whichever client they are offered.
Even if EPIC has its problems, like all clients and publisher have, for me competition between them is key. If a game is available on multiple clients for the same price I will always go for GOG first (because no DRM), then the “natural client” like buying an Ubisoft game on Ubisoft Connect to not put DRM on DRM on DRM which happens when you buy such a game on Steam and need two clients to work with each other to start the game.
Physical games would be the best option for gamers, because you can resell them and they are independent from game clients and internet connections, but the publshers ruined that already because you will still need patches regularly, they offer a box with only a key inside or make the game always online or depend on a single user/client anyway and then there is “live serice” crap. I think that for PC gaming (my only platform) physical copies are dead.
