Poland to scrutinize digital game platforms like Steam and PS Store on suspicion of anti-competitive practices | Game World Observer
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Polish regulators have expressed concerns over possible anti-competitive practices by digital video game platforms. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) may initiate proceedings based on the analysis of the collected data.
    • Trollception@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
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      2 months ago

      Steam is the 800 lb gorilla in the PC gaming sector. It sort of is the biggest offender as far as Poland’s argument is concerned.

      • exocrinous@startrek.websiteEnglish
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        2 months ago

        According to the game sales industry, providing a useful service is anticompetitive behaviour, because you might steal customers from the platforms that are screwing everyone.

  • TrousersMcPants@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    2 months ago

    I can see an argument for PSN and to a lesser degree Steam being anti-competitive. But from this article they seem to be implying a major point is them being digital markets pushing out “traditional” game sales, which sounds silly to me.

    • Cyberspark@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
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      2 months ago

      I’ve never really understood the need to hold digital sales back to physical goods sales. It’s like complaining that Costco is cheaper because it skips the traditional store front.

      • tb_@lemmy.worldEnglish
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        2 months ago

        Because any competition means anticompetitive behaviour doesn’t exist… Right?

        • unautrenom@jlai.luEnglish
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          2 months ago

          I think the issue is the same as Apple being anti-competitive about the AppStore. Sure, techically, both Steam and the PSN are platforms for selling games, but they’re each restricted to specific non-overlapping platforms (respictively PC and PlayStation) where there they have a (near for Steam, absolute for PSN) monopoly. Hence, anticompetitive behavior.