News Windows Store Infinite Warfare gamers suffer segregation

I've no interest in this game but this is just crazy, who on earth made that decision?

 

Apple problems, now also available on Windows...

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/avoid-buying-games-mac-app-store/

 

The culprit is probably Steamworks: if you're using Steamworks for multiplayer support, then steam (obviously) needs to be installed. That means that if you're distributing a game anywhere other than Steam, you need to either tell the user "go install this other program that doesn't actually do anything to do with the game because we need some dependencies", or you use another matchmaking system that is not compatible with Steamworks.
The right thing for Activision to do would just have been to use their existing network infrastructure which would be platform-agnostic. Instead, they've used Steamworks for the Steam distribution, XB Live for the Xbox version, and something else for the Windows 10 version. And retrofit Steamworks to the MW2 pack-in, pissing off everyone who wanted to use dedicated servers like was previously possible.

Basically, Activison don't want to bother maintain their own network code, so they've just dropped in whatever 3rd party matchmaking library was the least effort.

 

I suspect your right but I can't see Activision openly admitting that.

 

Then why not just use Steam's matchmaking libraries on the Windows Store version?

It seems more a case of Microsoft not wanting, or allowing, 3rd party matchmaking libraries. Don't games from companies like Ubisoft who have their own digital distribution network play nice with 3rd party services?

 

Allowing Steamworks on the Win Store version would require the installing of the Steam client, which would then be used for any DLC and Micro Transaction sales. Anyone who activated a Steam version of Elite Dangerous and got subjected to the Valve Tax will be acutely aware of this.

That was the root cause of EA removing themselves from Steam when they launched Origin, it looks like somewhere along the line Microsoft and Activision have had the same conversation.

 

That makes perfect sense when we're talking about either selling it through Steam or not but not when you're selling it via two outlets, at least not from the developers view.

If i as a developer sell a game via two outlets that both take a 30% cut from the sale of the game and include the DLC and Micro Transaction side of things from only one store then wouldn't the 30% cut from all DLC and Micro Transactions go via the store i packaged with the game.

Wouldn't the only time a developer could be hit by a store tax twice on the same transaction be if both of them said you must use our store for DLC and Micro Transaction if you want to sell the game on our store.

 

Doesn't this stem from steam charging a company for keys registered on the steam platform. This is why not all games released outside of steam, that subsequently end up on steam, give keys to the original owners. The developer/publisher still has to pay for those keys.

This would be a double tax, but for a slightly different reason.