this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2025
42 points (100.0% liked)
Gaming
31238 readers
6 users here now
From video gaming to card games and stuff in between, if it's gaming you can probably discuss it here!
Please Note: Gaming memes are permitted to be posted on Meme Mondays, but will otherwise be removed in an effort to allow other discussions to take place.
See also Gaming's sister community Tabletop Gaming.
This community's icon was made by Aaron Schneider, under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I agree with you however I have one barrier to entry that others haven't elaborated on.
Firstly, I'll say how they could overcome some of the other challenges mentioned.
Steam would just have to add the ability for developers to upload android builds of games alongside the windows, Linux, Mac builds. All of a sudden, users would have huge, existing libraries of games. Most games built with Unity can target Android. I suspect a lot of indie developers would happily add the build.
Leaks have implied they were working on an arm emulator/translation layer but I assume this had to do with VR prototyping. Possibly the same effect as above but so many more configurations to target, they couldn't handle it the way they do with steam deck.
Require/recommend to users to use a controller on Android
If either or both of those first 2 points succeed, Valve doesn't need to do much more to ensure the utility of Steam games on Android. PC gamers are considered among the most willing and able to jump through hoops for a result. Going to a website to download the steam store plus a little warning on Android wouldn't stop a reasonable percentage of them. It wouldn't stop me.
It's almost 0 risk to them, right? Right? I don't think so.
Here's the big barrier I mentioned. I assume they have a not-insignificant number of sales through the the android app. If they start allowing users to install android games, Google is going to stop them from having purchases in their play store app. And while I said that users would install their app from a website, what percentage of users would do it? How many fewer PC game sales would they make (from the Play Store app) in order to let their current users play games on Android?
Additionally, what would Steam do if they started getting android-only games being submitted. Or mobile-quality games dominating their store? Does this dilute Steam's identity?
Additionally, it might be something they've discussed but they would have rather focused on steam deck-type gaming for mobile. Or perhaps an ARM-based steam OS+steamdeck approach would make more sense for them and then the difficulty/cost (and opportunity cost) increases do instead they simply don't pursue it.
The cross-buy thing is something that Gog or Epic could do but they don't have nearly the same "customer profile" (size, behaviour etc) so it isn't as likely to have the same impact.
Regardless, in my view you've asked a great question and it's a solid idea.
They would have to distribute it independently. Google would have no say in the matter.
...cash their checks? I don't understand the question. That's the point.
...why not both?
Although Valve seems to like staying in their lane so that seems like the most likely explanation.
That's exactly my point. The current app lets you buy PC games despite being distributed through the store. If you can buy Android games on it, well, I doubt Google will ignore it. And even if Google was okay with it, there's no way to easily communicate to users who start using the app there that they need to download another app from a website.
I'm not saying it's a bad idea. I'm just saying I think there are reasons they haven't done it (yet?). I think they certainly must have considered it. I've certainly been wondering about it for a long while too.
Sure. I would assume they would do it the same way as steam deck, where that's the priority. The wide variety of phone specs on the market might have an impact on how they could support it etc.
And they could continue doing so while also distributing a separate app independently that allows you to buy Android games.
Notice if you try to buy a movie from Amazon on Google TV they redirect you to the website. They could do the same or redirect you to the non-Google version.
I agree, I just find it very curious what those reasons are.
I don't think they would get away with selling games in the app if games were playable on Android (demonstrating Android compatibility). I think they would have to do what Amazon kindle does and tell you to go buy your game somewhere else.
Edit: Here's the policy. You might be right but it looks like a grey area to me.
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9858738?sjid=15164020873047119237-NC&visit_id=638803514547940454-2089146208&rd=1
I'm saying they would need a separate app to purchase, install and play Android games.
Oh... I see!
I personally prefer the "also play PC games on Android" strategy so was looking at it from that angle.
Now that I'm thinking about it they'd probably have to de-list those cross-platform games from the Google app or make them unavailable, which would probably lead to a lot of confusion.