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Re:Game preservationists say Switch2 GameKey Cards are dishe... by gjsman-1000 on Thursday May 01, 2025 @09:28AM (#43857390)
Steam is always given an exception in these conversations because they’ve generally behaved - but that can easily change overnight from a black swan event.
Re:Game preservationists say Switch2 GameKey Cards are dishe... by 2mlWQbCK on Thursday May 01, 2025 @09:46AM (#43857602)
Some future manager will look at a graph and think monetization can be improved X% while only losing an estimated Y% of users. It is guaranteed to happen. Question is only if most in the current generation will outlive free access to their entire Steam library or not.
Re:Game preservationists say Switch2 GameKey Cards are dishe... by luma on Thursday May 01, 2025 @10:39AM (#43858295)
Valve quite famously doesn't have managers and instead runs a "flat" org chart.
Re:Game preservationists say Switch2 GameKey Cards are dishe... by jsheard on Thursday May 01, 2025 @11:01AM (#43858564)
Valve famously claims to have a flat org structure with no managers, but by all accounts from former employees there's absolutely an implicit power structure and you won't last long there if you don't fall in line.

It's especially hard to reconcile "the staff work on whatever they want" with "Valve almost exclusively makes profit-optimized live-service lootbox dispensers now". I doubt the artists who joined the Half Life and Portal company found their true calling in churning out lootbox fodder.

Re:Game preservationists say Switch2 GameKey Cards are dishe... by gjsman-1000 on Thursday May 01, 2025 @11:01AM (#43858565)
This can easily be changed if Gabe Newell dies, commits a crime, or gets divorced, his estate or trust wants a change in direction, a lawsuit costs Steam a ton of money and they need to get cash quick, take your pick.