Microsoft Set To Challenge Steam With Marketplace Downloads
I’ve said for a long time that Steam is the best thing to happen to PC gaming since the concept of shareware was created. The ability to download your game directly from Valve’s servers onto any computer, at any time is just awesome. Now they’re starting to save your key bindings, and soon your saved games. It really just doesn’t get much better than this. That is until Microsoft comes in and tries to do it better.
Yes, Microsoft is planning to compete with the digital distribution service by making full PC titles available through their Marketplace application. In two to three weeks, we’ll see the beginnings of the service, though it will only include videos, demos and DLC.
I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone stepped up to challenge Valve, and Microsoft definitely has the resources to do it. Unfortunately their Games For Windows Live initiative was all but a complete failure, which doesn’t give me much hope that they can really make a better Steam.
