Digital markets are naturally monopolistic. If there are no other barriers in a market, a single solution will rise to the top. Once it has gained enough market share, the “network effect” and incumbancy are often enough to keep it in power, even if the product degrades. Leaving steam is difficult, even when a better solution exists ( like gog) due to separated game libraries and friend groups.
See the following examples:
Amazon, facebook, youtube, google, instagram, X
Amazon has many examples of enshitification. Higher prices, worse search, paid promotion of products etc.
Facebook adds, social experimentation and propaganda machine.
Youtube removes the dislike button, more advertisements and recommendation algorithm pushing conspiracy theories.
Hell. Here we are, a small group of people who left reddit because of their anti consumer policies. But lemmy is still no competition, and getting smaller by the day.
Markets are not the solution to monopoly, they are the creator. Its the natural end state of competition.
Right? Like, I love GoG. If I’m able to get something on GoG I typically will, even if it means paying a higher price to do so. But that’s definitely not because it’s a better platform to use. It’s because I appreciate their stance on DRM and support for keeping old games playable on new systems. I buy from them despite GoG Galaxy, not because of it.
Sensible regulation would target the network effect. That’s the barrier you identified. For example make it possible to use your Steam friends with GOG. Or have some kind of interoperability or standard.
Digital markets are naturally monopolistic. If there are no other barriers in a market, a single solution will rise to the top. Once it has gained enough market share, the “network effect” and incumbancy are often enough to keep it in power, even if the product degrades. Leaving steam is difficult, even when a better solution exists ( like gog) due to separated game libraries and friend groups.
See the following examples: Amazon, facebook, youtube, google, instagram, X
Amazon has many examples of enshitification. Higher prices, worse search, paid promotion of products etc.
Facebook adds, social experimentation and propaganda machine.
Youtube removes the dislike button, more advertisements and recommendation algorithm pushing conspiracy theories.
Hell. Here we are, a small group of people who left reddit because of their anti consumer policies. But lemmy is still no competition, and getting smaller by the day.
Markets are not the solution to monopoly, they are the creator. Its the natural end state of competition.
Gog isn’t a better solution to steam though, the feature set isn’t comparable
Right? Like, I love GoG. If I’m able to get something on GoG I typically will, even if it means paying a higher price to do so. But that’s definitely not because it’s a better platform to use. It’s because I appreciate their stance on DRM and support for keeping old games playable on new systems. I buy from them despite GoG Galaxy, not because of it.
Sensible regulation would target the network effect. That’s the barrier you identified. For example make it possible to use your Steam friends with GOG. Or have some kind of interoperability or standard.