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submitted 3 weeks ago by mr_MADAFAKA@lemmy.ml to c/steam@lemmy.ml
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[-] Ledivin@lemmy.world 0 points 3 weeks ago

Even if there were literally no other competitors, GOG holding 1/6th of the market share (your words) absolutely precludes Steam from being a monopoly.

[-] Mk23simp@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 3 weeks ago

You're using a different definition of monopoly from what I'm using. To quote Wikipedia:

In economics, a monopoly is a single seller. In law, a monopoly is a business entity that has significant market power, that is, the power to charge overly high prices, which is associated with unfair price raises.

I'm using the latter of those definitions. I don't think it's particularly useful to only consider it a monopoly when there are literally no competitors. I think it is useful to consider it a monopoly when it has dominant market power. Steam's estimated 75-80% market share is dominant market power.

[-] athatet@lemmy.zip 0 points 3 weeks ago

So how often does steam charge overly high prices, which is associated with unfair price raises?

[-] Mk23simp@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 3 weeks ago

the power to charge overly high prices

One doesn't have to actually use a power in order to have that power. If I was carrying a loaded shotgun, I would have firepower. I wouldn't have to actually fire the gun to have firepower.

Also, one could argue (and Epic Games has) that Steam's 30% cut is overly high for digital distribution. I'm not sure whether that's true or not, but that doesn't really matter to the question of whether Steam has dominant market power.

this post was submitted on 04 Nov 2025
234 points (92.7% liked)

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