distribution platform Archives

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

GOG adds 10 more games to its Preservation Program to provide long-term support with DRM-free access

GOG has expanded its Preservation Program, which now includes 100 games, ensuring they remain accessible and playable on modern systems. Recently, 10 new titles were added, including The Wolf Among Us and The Last Express. Notable classics in the program include Fallout, The Witcher 1+2, RollerCoaster Tycoon, Dungeon Keeper, and Resident Evil 2. GOG is also developing native support for the GOG Galaxy application for Linux users.

AppWizard

January 27, 2026

UK legal action against Valve over Steam prices gets go ahead

Valve Corporation is facing a £656 million lawsuit in the UK over allegations of unfair pricing practices related to its online store, Steam. The lawsuit, initiated by Vicki Shotbolt in 2024, claims Valve uses its market dominance to impose restrictive terms on game publishers, preventing them from offering lower prices on competing platforms. The legal documents allege Valve charges an excessive commission of up to 30%, resulting in inflated costs for UK consumers. This case is a collective action that could affect up to 14 million Steam users in the UK. Additionally, Valve is facing a separate consumer action case in the United States filed in August 2024. Steam, launched in 2003, has become the largest distribution platform for PC gaming, with over 19,000 games released in 2025, generating £8.6 billion in revenue. Valve has also introduced hardware like the Steam Deck and announced plans for the Steam Machine console.

AppWizard

January 26, 2026

PC Games Class Action Certified

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has granted certification for opt-out proceedings against Valve Corporation, alleging that approximately 14 million consumers have been overcharged for games and additional content on Steam, potentially amounting to £656 million. The claim accuses Valve of abusing market dominance through practices such as Platform Parity Obligations, Anti-steering and Tying Provisions, and excessive commission charges. Valve contested the certification, questioning the methodologies for establishing liability and loss, but the CAT dismissed these objections. The Tribunal examined the Class Representative’s funding arrangements and concluded that the claim is representative of a large group of consumers with moderate losses, aligning with the Supreme Court's description of a 'paradigm' case for opt-out certification. Legal representation for the Class Representative was provided by Milberg London LLP and the claim is financially supported by Bench Walk Advisors.

AppWizard

December 10, 2025

The predecessor to one of Xbox’s biggest new games is getting delisted from a popular PC gaming store — you have less than a week to get it

GOG announced that two games, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey and The Outer Worlds, will be removed from its catalog on December 15. Both titles were published by Private Division, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive. The 2023 Spacer's Choice Edition of The Outer Worlds will also be delisted on the same date. These games will still be available on other platforms, including Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles. Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is currently priced at .99, while The Outer Worlds is priced at .99, and the Spacer's Choice Edition is at its full MSRP of .99. The reasons for the delistings are unclear, but they may be related to the sale of Private Division.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

One of the biggest and best game mods of all time is now a one-click install on GOG — but there’s one huge downside

The "One-Click Mod" system on GOG allows users to install and play mods with a single click, including the STALKER GAMMA modpack for STALKER Anomaly. To use this feature, players must own either STALKER: Call of Pripyat or STALKER 2 on GOG. Call of Pripyat is priced at .99, while STALKER 2 is priced at .99, both with current discounts. Players who own these titles on Steam may find it unappealing to repurchase them on GOG and can alternatively install GAMMA through Discord. Users are advised to download mods from reputable sources to ensure safety.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

21 Years Ago Today, One of the Best Games Ever Came to PC

Half-Life 2 was released on November 16, 2004, as a sequel to the original Half-Life from 1998, developed by Valve using the Source engine. The game introduced a broader narrative and memorable characters, including Gordon Freeman, Alyx Vance, and Father Grigori, while featuring a sophisticated physics engine and the Gravity Gun. It received widespread acclaim, achieving a perfect score from Edge magazine and selling over 12 million copies within seven years across multiple platforms. Half-Life 2 was instrumental in establishing Steam as a dominant digital distribution platform and set new standards for storytelling in action games. Despite its success, there has been no formal sequel, although episodic content and a prequel, Half-Life: Alyx, have been released.

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

Google and Epic propose Android settlement modifying antitrust injunction

On November 4, 2025, Google and Epic Games filed a joint motion with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to modify a permanent injunction from Epic's antitrust litigation against Google. The modified injunction retains prohibitions on Google's revenue-sharing practices and mandates that app developers are not required to launch exclusively on the Google Play Store. It introduces a "Registered App Store" system for third-party app stores, allowing users to install these through a streamlined process. The settlement extends globally, promoting competition across all Android markets. Developers are granted rights to offer alternative in-app payment methods and can present various payment options side-by-side. The modified injunction caps service fees that Google can charge on transactions in Play-distributed apps using alternative payment methods, extending through 2032. A Technical Committee will oversee disputes related to the new terms. The settlement's effectiveness depends on court acceptance and coordination with a separate settlement between Google and state attorneys general. The settlement is part of ongoing antitrust scrutiny facing Google. Following court approval, Google will have eight months to implement the necessary technology for the registered app store program.

AppWizard

November 4, 2025

Study says only 72% of game developers reckon that Steam has a monopoly on PC games, and even with some big caveats, it makes me wonder what the other 28% are thinking

Steam has been the leading platform for purchasing and selling PC video games for over a decade, with a large user base and superior user experience. A recent whitepaper titled 'The State of PC Game Distribution' indicates that 72% of game developers believe Steam has a monopoly in the PC gaming market. This research was conducted by Atomik Research, which surveyed 306 executives in the UK and US from May 18 to May 22. A new distribution platform called Rokky has emerged, aiming to connect publishers with various digital storefronts globally, potentially providing alternatives to Steam.

AppWizard

October 27, 2025

LoveR Kiss Endless Memories PC Version Won’t Be on Steam

Dragami Games announced that the PC version of LoveR Kiss Endless Memories will not be available on Steam, as the product page has been removed. The game is scheduled to launch on November 27, 2025, for the Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC. Details about the decision to exclude Steam were not provided, but Dragami Games confirmed that a PC version is still in development and will provide updates. Currently, there is no English eShop listing for the game. LoveR Kiss Endless Memories is an enhanced version of a previous dating and photography simulation game, featuring downloadable content, expanded photo customization options, and a new Pro Photo Session mode. It will support multiple languages, including English, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese subtitles. A recent trailer has showcased the game's dating simulation and photography elements.

Winsage

September 11, 2025

Microsoft waives fees for Windows devs publishing to Microsoft Store

Microsoft has eliminated registration fees for individual Windows developers to publish applications on the Microsoft Store, allowing submissions of various application types without costs. The company will manage the hosting and signing of applications, enabling developers to package apps as MSIX and alleviating the need for their own content delivery networks. Microsoft will also sign apps for free and deliver updates automatically. Developers can implement their own in-app payment systems for non-gaming applications, retaining all revenue. To publish applications, developers must verify their identity with a government-issued ID and a selfie. This change aims to create a more inclusive platform for developers. The Microsoft Store has been redesigned to support a variety of application types and has over 250 million monthly active users.