while i'm not the biggest fan of Steam either, i fear that given how ByteDance operates, this might become more DRM'ed ad-filled AI-filled slop i have to deal with just to download a game
gameBottom>>>
switch
Good luck, steam has a lot of bullshit in it (looking at you market place) but it also has stuff i can't imagine another company getting right, like steam workshop.
Steam is in a sweetspot of being greedy enough to survive in silicon valley hellscape and still being run by absolute nerds who actually play videogames
And being run by a person who, despite many flaws, has chosen not to chase infinite growth and has not taken his company public. Imo this has protect led them from the worst of enshittification (for now).
We can only hope Gabe has played enough crusader kings to understand the importance of heir management.
His son is part of a VR game-dev/publishing company. So, some familiarity with the practical side of the business at least. Better than most heirs.
Though, I do wonder if there will be an heir. On the one hand you hear about the flat management structure, but on the other you also hear that the culture is very in-group and clique-y (which, on the other other hand, is also what someone says when they just don't know how to work politely with others). Maybe son-of-Gabe quickly gets installed as a figurehead and everything continues as it did. Or maybe the whole thing splits open and becomes very very messy.
On the one hand you hear about the flat management structure, but on the other you also hear that the culture is very in-group and clique-y (which, on the other other hand, is also what someone says when they just don't know how to work politely with others).
That's something I've oftened wondered about. I feel like interviews with former employees often reference toxic culture and things, but then when they cite specific examples it rarely sounds like harassment and more often sounds like just not meshing into the way a team works. I obviously want to give potential victims the benefit of the doubt, but I do also wonder what portion of them just couldn't handle a high expectations low restrictions environment and find a team to slip into. Which isn't a personal failing or anything of course, I know myself I may not thrive in that kind of environment, but it just makes me wonder how much of the "clique" culture is overblown.
My gut says that "toxic work culture" and "flat management structure" would not be a particularly stable combination. Like, you might get a few years out of it, but decades? Seems unlikely.
Still, one of those interesting questions that we may never get a proper answer on.
What is a clique if not a vanguard you merely don't like?
Doubt that Bytedance out of all companies can make something usable.
if it's got AI-assist, I will avoid it like the plague.
It better run on LInux
first gametap, now gametop - what's next, gametip?
gametiptup 
False ancestor. It's actually GameStop -> GameTop, so next we get GameOp
and then gamep?
Only then will we finally reach the pinnacle of gaming, Game.
I don't want a Steam competitor, I want DRM free games, that aren't 800GB
Welcome back, Origin
I'm yet again asking China to invest into cultural development departments because, come on, GameTop? Do they have to intentionally sabotage themselves, because if they had Science, Technology & Art the USA would get so scared they'd start an invasion?
Hmm hate the ai part
get a better name
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Tabletop, DnD, board games, and minecraft. Also Animal Crossing.
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