Epic CEO: “Universal Windows Platform can, should, must, and will die”

[futurefields]

If you don't like it, don't buy it and don't play it.

Why do people defend this garbage?

Nah, I think I'll keep complaining about what I don't like in the industry in a most visible fashion rather than passively sit on the sidelines as you suggest which tends to accomplish nothing.

 

[Genx87]

I consider this FUD because because it is a what if the sky is falling question.

Also, Steam isn't the end all and be all of getting games. How is Steam even relevant? The article says Steam and Origin will be at a disadvantage because of UWP games can't run on them. Same is true the other way around, UWP applications can't run on Steam and Origin which are more mature products and have a huge installed base.

As far as Quantum Break goes, exclusive titles have always been around. MS want's to promote their market just as much as Sony wants to promote the PS4.

Do you understand what the word "if" means within the context of my response? Holy christ I cant believe you think that is FUD.

Steam is relevant to me because 95% of games I play go through steam.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

This is a stupid fear mongering to a non-issue.

Firstly, DX12 works in Win 10. You do not need a UWP app to use DX12.

Window's Store is just a distribution platform. It's got its ecosystem, just like Valve has with Steam overlays, trading cards, social, etc.

Nobody is forced to ONLY release games for DX12 to the Window Store for it to work. You can build it DX12, release it anywhere you want, in .exe format.

Microsoft's games like Gears or Quantum, they can release it where they want, because they own it. If they want it exclusive, then so be it. Consoles have had exclusivity for decades.

If you don't like it, don't buy it and don't play it.

And if EPIC has issues with it, I hope to see them push Vulkan and put their words into actions.

Good post.

EDIT: If MS brings console exclusives to windows, I think this is a good thing. I will not buy another console, as long as PC gaming is still alive. So, being a Gears fan, if this provides a distribution platform on PC, then "shut up and take my money!" Unlike console, no reason all these services cannot reside on my one Hardware platform. The more, the merrier, if they all bring content I want.

I see it a bit like streaming video. You have to have multiple services if you want all the content. Pay up or don't. Choice is a good thing. And I do not buy that this will be some takeover of PC gaming. It is a typical knee jerk reaction.

The last couple of years, as some of the members here have observed, has seen PC gamers become the biggest cry babies on the internet. I am disappoint.

Why do people defend this garbage?

Nah, I think I'll keep complaining about what I don't like in the industry in a most visible fashion rather than passively sit on the sidelines as you suggest which tends to accomplish nothing.

Voting with your wallet is your greatest power as a consumer. It is not sitting on the sidelines. It is refusing to even pay at the gate to watch the game. If you want to picket the stadium too, great. Maybe you convince some season ticket holders not to buy for next season. It all helps. But do not underestimate or attempt to downplay, the power of spending your money elsewhere. It is THE most powerful method for making businesses hear your concerns.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Voting with your wallet is your greatest power as a consumer. It is not sitting on the sidelines. It is refusing to even pay at the gate to watch the game. If you want to picket the stadium too, great. Maybe you convince some season ticket holders not to buy for next season. It all helps. But do not underestimate or attempt to downplay, the power of spending your money elsewhere. It is THE most powerful method for making businesses hear your concerns.

I am beginning to wonder if that really works. So often you hear people complain about something over and over, then they buy it anyway day one, then complain complain complain. SMH.

 

[Grooveriding]

So long as there are DX12 games available outside of the Windows store, that support multi-gpu, exclusive full screen, disabling vsync etc. then I could care less.

Any game exclusive to the Windows store is a game I won't buy. I doubt the store even works on my Windows 10 machine with how much crap I've had to disable in the OS so it doesn't harvest my usage habits.

 

[BoberFett]

Steam is relevant to me because 95% of games I play go through steam.

So then it seems as though you're OK with closed game ecosystems...

 

[ImpulsE69]

So then it seems as though you're OK with closed game ecosystems...

Steam is not a closed ecosystem. It is simply DRM. You can do pretty much anything you want with said games. UWP is not only DRM, it is locked down and much less functionality. Maybe it is something that will change over time for the better, but to me, as an OS company that is unacceptable and one only has to look at GFWL to know that they cannot be trusted to just do things the right way.

 

[Silverforce11]

So long as there are DX12 games available outside of the Windows store, that support multi-gpu, exclusive full screen, disabling vsync etc. then I could care less.

Any game exclusive to the Windows store is a game I won't buy. I doubt the store even works on my Windows 10 machine with how much crap I've had to disable in the OS so it doesn't harvest my usage habits.

That's exactly it, there will be DX12/Vulkan games outside of UWP.

MS is forcing their own games to be exclusives. You can say to them "piss off" and don't buy it if you don't agree to that (which I do not agree with and will not buy their games).

Nothing sends a clearer message to corporations than $.

 

[PrincessFrosty]

I'm not exactly a MS fanboy, but if you don't like it then don't use it. Super f***ing simple.

 

[Rustican]

Do you understand what the word "if" means within the context of my response? Holy christ I cant believe you think that is FUD.

Steam is relevant to me because 95% of games I play go through steam.

Steam is relevant to you because you're an invested user of it. As such you fear any impact to Steam caused by UWP. Regardless of the fact that nothing is forcing developers to use UWP for their game development.

The use of "if" in your statement brings up the hypothetical. A scenario in which MS will force Steam off their platform, and if that were possible all other third party stores such as Origin or GoG. There is nothing to back up the claim that MS is locking out the Win 32 API.

So yes i called your comment and the originating article FUD. Definition: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/FUD-Fear-Uncertainty-and-Doubt

FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) is the term for any strategy intended to make a company's customers insecure about future product plans with the purpose of discouraging them from adopting competitors' products.

MS is definitely trying to encourage developers to use UWP and the MS Market. The same way that EA broke off from Steam to push their Store and the same way that Valve is pushing their Steam OS. No one is forcing anyone to use these platforms. Customers are also free to vote with their wallet.

 

[lupi]

Don't see this as any different than steam, origin etc...


If you love steam you can't say this is crap just because it's a(nother) locked eco system.

 

[Sabrewings]

Don't see this as any different than steam, origin etc...


If you love steam you can't say this is crap just because it's a(nother) locked eco system.

Steam's games aren't locked in this method. Nor are any other distribution platforms (except from the Apple store, I guess). With UWP, you can't mod the game, you can't enable SLI, disable vSync, use FRAPS or enhancement software, etc. With Steam, once you've bought it and it downloads you have a normal game folder with which you can do whatever you want and an application that runs in normal win32 and not a UWP sandbox.

 

[Genx87]

So then it seems as though you're OK with closed game ecosystems...

I actually dont have a problem with them per se provided they are beneficial. Steam has been great for me. Windows has been great for me as well. But if MS were to close off windows and force me through their store. I would drop windows before dropping steam.

 

[Genx87]

Steam is relevant to you because you're an invested user of it. As such you fear any impact to Steam caused by UWP. Regardless of the fact that nothing is forcing developers to use UWP for their game development.

The use of "if" in your statement brings up the hypothetical. A scenario in which MS will force Steam off their platform, and if that were possible all other third party stores such as Origin or GoG. There is nothing to back up the claim that MS is locking out the Win 32 API.

So yes i called your comment and the originating article FUD. Definition: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/FUD-Fear-Uncertainty-and-Doubt

You don't say. That is why I used the word "if" and included Steam as a replacement in my hypothetical situation. There was no statement of fact nor attempt to scare windows users into believing it to be true.

 

[quikah]

This is starting to sound stupid.

Valve could suddenly lock the games they sell to Steam only. Therefor we should all abandon Steam.

UWP don't work all that well for AAA games right now. MS is aware and have promised to fix it. We will have to wait and see if they come through on this promise. Still, I am personally glad that they have started to offer some Xbox exclusives to PC even with these limitations.

 

[ImpulsE69]

This is starting to sound stupid.

Valve could suddenly lock the games they sell to Steam only. Therefor we should all abandon Steam.

UWP don't work all that well for AAA games right now. MS is aware and have promised to fix it. We will have to wait and see if they come through on this promise. Still, I am personally glad that they have started to offer some Xbox exclusives to PC even with these limitations.

You are right, they could, but most of us trust Valve way more than we trust Microsoft. History is a great gauge.

 

[Martimus]

Valve could suddenly lock the games they sell to Steam only.

Valve has locked their titles to Steam only since Half Life 2. They had a huge backlash from gamers when they did it, but they survived, and most people don't even care about it anymore.

 

[BoberFett]

I actually dont have a problem with them per se provided they are beneficial. Steam has been great for me. Windows has been great for me as well. But if MS were to close off windows and force me through their store. I would drop windows before dropping steam.

You think MS would eliminate Steam, GOG, and every other gaming service? That would kill the Windows home desktop market overnight.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Don't see this as any different than steam, origin etc...

If you love steam you can't say this is crap just because it's a(nother) locked eco system.

It isn't the same though.

What makes Steam, or Origin, great is that you can get the keys from many sources which cuts down the cost of games.

Will MS let us do that? Will the Humble Bundle store sell Windows Platform games?

 

[biostud]

UWP=GFWL

If MS uses UWP to distribute XB1 games and apps that is fine for me, and I think it makes sense with strict control. But for PC titles it makes no sense, since it is modding, tweaking, dual gpus, mouse /keyboard etc that keeps the PC gaming scene alive.

 

[Skel]

It isn't the same though.

What makes Steam, or Origin, great is that you can get the keys from many sources which cuts down the cost of games.

Will MS let us do that? Will the Humble Bundle store sell Windows Platform games?

I can't see the future so there's no way to say for sure. I will point out that currently you can buy download codes for Xbox games from many sources. I'm betting that it still gives a cut to MS, but I also believe those downloads are coming from MS servers so it kind of makes sense for them to get a cut. I would guess that if the Dev/Distributor locks the game to the Windows Marketplace (which isn't what UWP is regardless of what a lot of people seem to believe it is) there would be an option to pick up codes. Regardless it'll be a long time before they kill of the ability to load stuff the old fashion way on the desktop. What you'll prob see is the death of the desktop as you know it now, but that has less to do with MS than it does with how people are using devices.

UWP itself as a bunch of issues for PC games, but as I've pointed out elsewhere, so did DX when it first launched. I dont' think that was really worth anything until version 5-6 (I'm a bit fuzzy on when I saw it really working as they wanted it to). I also think UWP is the best shot MS has to remain an option long term. I think the idea of making the app able to port to the mobile side easier is desperately needed for the app gap they're getting killed with. It's also something that's going to happen eventually as people are changing how they're doing stuff. If MS doesn't do it, they'll be overtaken by Apple or Google.