Microsoft has filed for a new patent that describes a credit system to "rent" software and games, including rate-limited rentals based on the type of use. In their examples, singleplayer costs more than training mode, but multiplayer costs more credits than both. Users can 'earn' credits by subjecting themselves to more advertisements during loading screens, round win or loss screens, and level loading screens. The patent technology can be applied at the application level, OS level, and device level, making it wide-reaching and affecting more than just Windows machines. In one instance, Microsoft explicitly names Smart TVs. This would be similar, in some ways, to ACR (Automatic Content Recognition) on LG or other Smart TVs, where the patent-pending technology could scan the screen and audio.

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[+] -6 points 1 day ago (6 children)

The previous generation was dumb enough to accept Steam's monopoly.

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  • [–] 28 points 1 day ago (5 children)
  • [–] 2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

    Valve used the same exclusivity deals Gmers complain with Epic. Valve stops games being sold on other platforms for cheaper. Valve paid publishers you use steam as DRM for physical releases to force people into their ecosystem, to the point that when a game has its own launcher from the devs, gmers call it third-party.

    Also that image just proves my point. Uplay and Origin were just their attempts to recreate Steam's path. But because of the monopoly and brainwashed G*mers, it didn't work.

    Including Epic with that makes no sense. It's still alive. The only reason it's there is because it's seen as a Steam competitor, and the marks need to bury it. Like WWE fanboys anytime another wrestling company is mentioned.

    Nintendo. The fuck is that doing there. The Switch 2 has sold great, coming after the original Switch the second best selling console of all time. There's no reason for them to be there. Again outside of brainwashed PC G*mers that need an enemy.

    Sony. The PS5 is the 8th best selling console. And that image was made way before the current controversies. Which is ironic considering you're defending Valve. A company that killed physical PC releases.

    Xbox. That's Microsoft. Windows is everywhere. And the Xbox game pass has done great. 30million users from some basic research.

    All that image proves. Is that Steam users and PC G*mers are so brainwashed and divorced from reality. They need to create fake scenarios and narratives to defend the monopolist hellscape the PC marketplace has become.

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  • [–] 1 point 22 hours ago*

    99% of my game purchases of the last two years were on gog.com and itch.io, so there are still some ways. However, I agree Steam is a monopoly. You basically have to ditch most triple A gaming to leave Steam behind. But if you're willing to be more flexible with what games you play, gog.com & itch.io are still quite feasible and they're both DRM free as far as I understand.

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