As a beginner Gamer, which store should I go for, Steam or Epic?

[__MisterGoneShiner__]

I want to start my Gamer experience soon and I just wanna be sure about ONE store. Should I go for Epic or Steam?

Also, if you can spare me some time, can you give me reasons, why I should and/or shouldn't for that store?

Thank you from advance!

P. S: I got myself an Epic account and a free GTA V Premium Edition back in May 2020 thanks to the news I heard from my friend but my semi-POTATO laptop can't handle it! 😅😅😂😂

CATEGORY: ELECTRONICS-GAMER

Steam Store

Epic Games Store

Updates

1 y

Thank you so much for the comments, everyone. Everyone saying Steam so I guess i will go with it but also keep an Epic Games account too maybe for weekly free games like I got GTA V so yeah. Thank you all once again!

Updates

1 y

Shit, i dont know who to give the MMO

[Soteris]

Steam. However I do not recommend you get your games from Steam. Personally, I recommend Good old games for older games because they do a good job to make them work on new machines. Secondly I recommend Humble Bundle as a place you can pick up bundled up packages of games/software/audiobooks/books/whatever for cheap as well as a monthly subscription that gives you choices of games AND a store that you can get pretty decent discounts on compared to Steam if you subscribe to their monthly games.

As for why Steam? Its the industry standard. Most games will be released for Steam if they are not developed by a company such as EA. I also argue that they have the best platform and customer support.

[__MisterGoneShiner__]

Thank you!

[NamerOfStars]

I'd actually suggest GOG- no DRM (they've shaved the line on that at least once, but they'll probably back down again soon), so if you've got the installer, you're set even if the service goes down. They DID end up implementing regional pricing, though. Also, no spyware like Epic or dubious legal wrangling like Steam. Fewer sales and freebies than either of those, though.

[__MisterGoneShiner__]

GOG? What's that?

[__MisterGoneShiner__]

Or DRM?

[NamerOfStars]

GOG- formerly "good old games", now no longer standing for anything, since they're not limited to old stuff any more- is a digital storefront owned by CD Projekt Red, the people who made the Witcher games. It began as a distributor of old games that had no way to be bought digitally and relied on ancient physical copies, then it expanded into modern stuff.

[NamerOfStars]

DRM is "digital restrictions management", a collective term for a series of anti-piracy measures companies take. If you buy a game on Steam (or Epic), you can download a copy of it as long as the service is still up and your account is in good standing. If the company goes out of business? You're SOL. If they decide to cancel your account, you're hosed. Anything you have downloaded already will be fine (so long as it has an offline mode), but you won't be able to download it again.

By contrast, GOG just gives you an installer file; download it once, and you're free to use it indefinitely; no further connection is required.

DRM also refers to the additional software installed ALONGSIDE the stuff you WANT to install: SecuROM, Denuvo, and so forth. It's *intended* (ostensibly) to prevent people cracking the game and distributing it for free (piracy), but it often has serious side effects, and not only weakens performance, but can cause software and even hardware damage.

[__MisterGoneShiner__]

Aha, I uh, i think I get it. That's a lot of info tbh 😂😅

[NamerOfStars]

One more thing: if there are (now or later) particular games you're interested in, a useful resource is isthereanydeal. com. It's an aggregator that keeps listings of several online retailers (many of whom work in Steam or Epic keys), and will you what the cheapest prices are in your area for a given game.

[msmissydc]

Go for steam. Much better store and discounts and by far the better programm. But grab the weekly free games from epic. Just keep epic a free account. That is at least what my experience, and fiance told me. He is much more invested in gaming and has a much bigger steam libary.

[oh_k789]

Why only one?
GOG is the to-go choice for old gaming treasures (and to meet other connoisseurs of gaming). Itch. io for contemporary creativity.
Steam is the conformist's choice (every poll featuring it will have it as the preferred option): I use it too, though, because some games are only there. Epic I pick over Steam for games that are only on Epic (obviously), and games that are in both places.

Buying directly from the game developer is also a nice option, it will give more money to them, who need it far more than the likes of Steam, and even Epic.

[Hawner]

Personally, I prefer Steam. It has a huge variety of games, discounts every so often...
Epic... Besides sometimes giving you a game (normally an old or bad game, or both) for free, doesn't have much else.

[__MisterGoneShiner__]

Cool! Thanks!

[Hawner]

No problem.
Still, I am speaking from my personal experience. Maybe others have something else to say in favor of Epic.

[DarkWinterNights]

Steam has a better store, workshop, community and friends lists. But Epic has some decent exclusives and free weekly games. You’ll probably end up with both at some point.

[Havthrills]

I like steam. They have a variety and some free games.

[ArtemisSilver]

Steam, steam deck is great for entry level gamers who need a well priced machine

[art84]

Steam though Epic has free games every week