Gaming · Platform
Stage
Function
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Epic Games Store
3PC storefront and launcher competing on cuts and exclusives—better for devs in spots, still a platform tax and account wall for players.
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itch.io
1Indie game marketplace where creators set their own price and revenue split—including 0% to the platform; bootstrapped, no ads, and structurally hostile to extraction by design.
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Steam
2Dominant PC games client; strong library lock-in and social graph, still delivering real value to buyers.
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Xbox (Microsoft)
3Console ecosystem built on Game Pass value—now shaped by steep subscription price swings, pulled perks, and account lock-in around what “ownership” means.