As gamers, we want to press play and embark on a new journey in remote lands. Unfortunately, nowadays, this process is often much more complicated. Running our games almost always requires one or more additional video game launchers, such as Steam, EA App, Epic Games, PSN, and many more. Too many…
Video game launchers
Video game launchers are software applications that serve as a centralized hub for selling, managing, and launching video games on a computer. Players can access their game library, purchase new games, and often interact with community features like forums or social media. Launchers typically offer additional functionalities such as automatic game updates and cloud saves. Valve’s Steam is the most widely used launcher, but most major publishers have their counterparts. For instance, there are PSN (Sony), EA App (Electronic Arts), Epic Games (Epic), Ubisoft Connect (Ubisoft), and Battle.net (Blizzard), to mention only the most popular.
Why launchers are annoying
General inconvenience
Nobody wants to be forced to install additional software. All the more, this software is required only to allow us to run another program, in this case, video games. Who remembers passwords for all their launcher accounts? I don’t. Hence, every time I have to log in to Ubisoft Connect or EA App, I have to dig deep in my mind to find the correct combination. Furthermore, many publishers require logging in to their launcher, even if you have the game on another platform. As a result, you have to run two launchers to run one title. Players find it an outrageous way to make our lives harder.
Regional problems
It’s not so bad if it only makes playing less convenient. Sony, unfortunately, has gone a step further. You probably remember the recent protest when the company announced that Helldivers 2 requires a PSN account. The same goes for PC versions of Ghost of Tsushima and the upcoming God of War Ragnarok. Unlike other launchers, PSN is not available worldwide. There are about 170 countries where players can’t use this program. It includes almost entire Africa, parts of South America, and some Asian and European states, such as Estonia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, and Serbia. It creates a paradox: players in those countries can buy games, but they can’t play them, at least without using some unconventional practices.
Library chaos
Instead of one vast library, we have our games spread across many launchers. It’s frustrating when you want to play a game you know you have but can’t find it across countless applications.
Poor UI
Last but not least, there’s the UI problem. Most of the launchers are highly unintuitive and lack essential features. Moreover, their owners haven’t been doing anything to make things better. Even Steam is archaic, but we are used to its flaws, so they don’t bother us anymore.
Should we root for Steam?
Steam is the most popular video game launcher, and most players would be happy if they could use only the Valve software to run all their games. Even though the mind-blowing number of different launchers is highly inconvenient, it’s not necessarily bad. At least not as bad as it may look at first sight.
First of all, the competition is good for consumers. If the companies fight for gamers’ attention and money, they try to offer the best prices. Therefore, we can find interesting deals inside their launchers. There’s virtually no month without deals on Epic, Ubisoft, GOG, or other services. Without competition, we would have been condemned for Steam sales. And, without competition, Steam wouldn’t have a reason to offer high discounts. I hope that one day, all those companies realize they should also try to provide players with a friendly UI.
This is the reason I don’t support boycotting games if they are not available on Steam. Sometimes, such actions are plainly unfair. For instance, Alan Wake 2 was published by Epic, so I find it understandable that the game is available on the Epic launcher.
What we can do
If we’re condemned to have all those launchers, let them be useful ones. Therefore, don’t be shy about informing companies about their apps’ flaws. I know the molochs usually don’t listen to people, but if there is not just a single voice but a chorus of many, then there are some chances.
It’s also good to use one launcher to rule them all. For instance, GOG Galaxy 2.0 and Playnite let players manage libraries from other applications. It often saves me from buying a game I already have.
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