14 DAY TRIAL // Digital game distribution is becoming something quite common these days, and a major threat to traditional brick-and-mortar game stores, like GameStop, which don't seem quite aware of the fact that gamers prefer to download their games from a single service, right in their own home.
Steam is currently the biggest online content distribution network, boasting almost 600 titles and over 20 million user accounts. Valve, the company behind it, has recently been striking big partnerships left and right, for example the one with Electronic Arts, for big publishers to bring their new titles onto the distribution network.
The most recent publisher to have its games present on Steam is Square Enix, which has just announced that it will be offering the upcoming RPG The Last Remnant through Steam, alongside the regular types of distribution, through retail stores. Also, in the near future, the Japanese company will release a lot of other games onto Valve's service.
“We are excited to offer the millions of Steam customers online access to Square Enix titles beginning with our major action RPG, The Last Remnant,” said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Inc. and Square Enix Ltd. “Square Enix is committed to delivering the best quality titles to PC gamers and distribution on Steam is one of the many steps we are taking to increase accessibility for fans in North America and PAL territories.”
The excitement was mutual as the director of business development at Valve, Jason Holtman, stated that: “Square Enix is a fantastic addition to the Steam lineup. We are thrilled that Square Enix chose to bring its diverse portfolio of titles to Steam and know that our customers will be ecstatic to hear this news.”
It now seems that Microsoft's GamesForWindows platform is slowly but surely losing the race in terms of PC digital distribution. Hopefully this will mean more and more companies migrating to the easy-to-use Steam and that everyone will find their favorite games there.