I mean, afaik Steam has never helped in the role of publisher.
Publishers might provide engine tools, development resources, coordination, or other forms of development assistance. Or, if they’re rich and brain damaged, they’ll just buy out functioning game studios and force them to make live service slop.
They publish their own games, so in that sense it’s true. I don’t think they’ve ever published a 3rd party game though.
Also, aren’t publishers mainly for marketing and that? Usually people are happiest when the publisher doesn’t involve itself in the development. That’s what the developers are for, after all.
The explosion of indie games because of how easily Steam allows a budding developer to publish their game says otherwise. The ease of self-publication through Steam was one of the first major benefits of the platform.
Katana314@lemmy.world 2 days ago
I mean, afaik Steam has never helped in the role of publisher.
Publishers might provide engine tools, development resources, coordination, or other forms of development assistance. Or, if they’re rich and brain damaged, they’ll just buy out functioning game studios and force them to make live service slop.
Ghoelian@piefed.social 2 days ago
They publish their own games, so in that sense it’s true. I don’t think they’ve ever published a 3rd party game though.
Also, aren’t publishers mainly for marketing and that? Usually people are happiest when the publisher doesn’t involve itself in the development. That’s what the developers are for, after all.
GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Valve publish games their own games. Valve provide tools and services for developers to use.
Kolanaki@pawb.social 1 day ago
The explosion of indie games because of how easily Steam allows a budding developer to publish their game says otherwise. The ease of self-publication through Steam was one of the first major benefits of the platform.