Game Distribution Platforms
Documenteer digital distribution platforms:
I am aware of the following online videogame distribution platforms:
These platforms allow you to create an account, buy a game, and keep track of it in your account. You can download it later, even after a few years, by logging in to your account.
Note that many platforms provide codes to download bought games on other platforms as well. In particular, many platforms provide Steam keys.
| Name | Platforms | # OS X titles | DRM of own platform | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple App Store | OS X | Recent commercial games. 7000 titles | DRM | Direct download |
| Steam | Windows, OS X, Linux | Most commercial games. 2000 titles | DRM | Direct download |
| Desura | Windows, OS X, Linux | Mostly Indie. 1200 titles (1100 DRM-free) | DRM-free | Steam or direct-download |
| Gamersgate | Windows, OS X, Linux, Android | 1200 titles (500 DRM-free) | DRM-free | Steam, Uplay, Origin or direct-download |
| Humble Bundle | Windows, OS X, Android | Mostly Indie. 1100 titles (500 DRM-free) | DRM-free | Steam or direct-download |
| Gog | Windows, OS X, Linux | Old and Indie. 500 titles (all DRM-free) | DRM-free | Direct download |
| Shinyloot | Windows, OS X | Mostly Indie. 150 titles (120 DRM-free) | DRM-free | Direct-download, Steam or Desura |
| Green Man Gaming | Windows, OS X | 60 titles | N/A? | Steam |
| Origin | Windows, OS X | EA games only. 30 titles | DRM | Direct-download |
| Uplay | Windows, Console, iOS | Ubisoft games only | DRM | Direct-download |
| GameFly Digital | Console | N/A | DRM | Monthly subscription fee |
| GameStop | Windows, Console | N/A | Unknown | Direct-download |
| OUYA | Own OUYA console | N/A | DRM-free | Direct-download |
Number of titles is measured at June 2015, by counting the number of Mac games, excluding downloadable content (DLC).
Most distribution platforms take about 30% of the cost. Humble Bundle, because it only keeps about 10%, although that excludes about 6% for transaction fees, and another 10% for charity.
The prices of all platforms are usually the same, although in particular Steam often has deep discounts (up to 80%) during summer and Christmas season. Humble Bundle has weekly bundles which are 'pay what you want'.
Defunct Platforms
- Impulse
- merged into GameStop
- Direct2Drive
- merged into GameFly Digital
- Playfire
- merged into Green Man Gaming
- Games for Windows Marketplace
- merged into Xbox Live
Other Stores
Regular stores, like Amazon.com may also offer direct downloads.
Many publishers, like Telltale or Auran, offer their own digital download solutions.
