According to Game Debate, Amazon might intend to enter the digital game distribution market. If so, Steam could face considerable competition.

But the way I see it, GOG would be safe because GOG features no DRM which Steam and others, and presumable Amazon, wouldn't want to offer.

I wonder if that would that be within the current Amazon site or if they would have to create a new one like amazon games or something since I'm guessing they would need a download client.

Knowing Amazon, it will be US only. Valve has nothing to worry about.

That could be pretty great. I look forward to seeing what they come up with and how they make it something that Steam isn't already doing.

Bought GTA4 on Amazon six years ago. Windows Live went down and now Amazon will not let me download the game and will not give me the Steam version or give me a refund. The game is just sitting in my Amazon library without a download button and Amazon will do nothing to help me. I will never buy a game from them again. Steam has absolutely nothing to worry about.

Competition is always good. Interesting to see what they will do.

This could be a great thing.

I'll believe it when I see it.

Gentlemen, here is the link to the news item.

http://www.game-debate.com/news/22235/amazon-patents-hint-retail-giant-is-looking-to-take-on-steam-and-digital-distribution

It appears to be a new interface probably linked to Amazon but otherwise apart from Amazon. That would mean it's independent, ie not like dealing with Amazon download as it currently stands.

My only concern would be if Amazon Games offered DRM free titles to complete with GOG, but then if GOG folds or sells out to Amazon, Amazon could eliminate the DRM free policy. Then all online distributors would be like Steam, just the way the game studios want.

I'm sure you didn't mean DLC free, but DRM free, right?

Also, there's no way a company like Amazon will go the DRM free route. I just can't see it happening. GOG is small potatoes in the struggle for world domination on the digital distribution game. Don't get me wrong, I like gog's model over all the others, but Amazon will only try to wrestle a piece of the cake from Steam, not GOG.

They certainly have the money to compete, but steam is so deeply embedded in gamers, that it will take a lot (more than a lot) to get people to turn away from steam, however awful many of steam's things are.

Amazon also have a tendency to focus on primarily America, and then only 6 or so countries around the world who deem worthy to partake of the spoils (like Amazon Prime).

So while competition is great, and I hope they pour in some billions to this cause, because it might make steam actually take notice and make changes in favor of the customers, I can't see it having an effect on "little" old GOG.

ughh that's though. Did you try to escalate it with support like twice? And is your Amazon account frequently used or you buy almost nothing with it? Because ya at least for myself amazon support always delivered even in unconvential cases or cases when the warranty just had expired and such

I had similar feelings. Whenever someone says there's some great deal on Amazon... yep, US-only.

Ps. How come I thought Amazon actually is already in the digital game market? But I guess this would be deepening it wilt its own multiplayer support and such, like GOG is doing with Galaxy?

Anyway I have no idea how exactly Amaxon would differentiate itself. What could it offer that existing stores, Microsoft Store included, can't? I don't think they even have any exclusives, ie. they are not a game publisher like EA, Valve or Ubisoft?

I think you can get digital downloads on Amazon (I'm sure I've seen that) though I'm not sure of what exactly. I imagine most of what they sell (like retail game stores these days) is Steam keys...

Well... they now have a game engine. And as far as I'm aware they host a lot of multiplayer stuff through their servers anyway so they might offer people using either some kind of deal for selling on their store?

If they make a good offering (and actually do it outside the US as mentioned) I don't see this as a bad thing. I've never really had much of a problem with Amazon and would be more likely to buy from them than Steam (I think).

Do you realize this is a shitty defense of a shitty business practice? "If you're not a frequent and demanding customer, fuck you."

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I don't doubt this is exactly how Amazon operates, though.
"Can we afford to lose this guy?"
1. Only bought a CD in 2005? Yeah whatever.
2. Nope nope nope, it's a whale, refund.
3. Lose whom? Very funny, he's got a dash button for kleenex.

not defending it at all :D , quite sure though their customer service works that way and ya if you buy frequently at them their customer service is top notch - so ya i just would be a bit irritated if Heretic is a frequent long term customer and they treat him that way ^^ (not saying that treating customers differently depending on their turnover is good/fair ^^)