Since its launch way back in 2003, Valve’s Steam has grown to become the most dominant marketplace for PC games. But it’s not the only digital distribution service for gaming, no matter how grandiose its marketing campaigns become, nor is it without its faults.
There are quite a few other PC gaming platforms out there worth checking out, especially if you want variety with your gaming. Whether it’s DRM-free games, exclusive content that’s not available on Steam, or specialized gaming titles, if you’re serious about expanding your game catalog, these are the platforms you should peruse.
Itch.io
Despite its odd name – which is memorable, at least – Itch.io is a platform specializing in independent games, making it the opposite of the Valve Corporation. The platform allows indie developers to sell their games under a pay-what-you-feel model (some do come with minimum prices, however) and you’ll be safe knowing that a big percentage of what you pay will go directly to designers and developers.
There are also several free games available that are quite obscure and thoroughly entertaining. You may need to spend some time trying games out before you decide on titles that are worth adding to your permanent library, but that’s a small price to pay when games are free or available directly in your browser.
Battle.net
Battle.net predates Steam by a grand old seven years, but it’s still quite unknown in the wider PC gaming industry. Originally launched to distribute Diablo in 1996, today, Battle.net houses StarCraft (I-II), Diablo 3, Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Heroes of the Storm, and Hearthstone. Additionally, it’s the only platform where you can purchase Activision’s Destiny 2, which gives it an edge over Steam in this instance.
There are also some added extras on the platform, including friends lists, chat function, automatic patching, and forum access. You can also stream gameplay directly to your social media accounts through the platform.
Unibet Casino
A grand dame of the iGaming world, Unibet first launched on an online real money gaming website in 1999, making it the oldest-running platform on this list. Specializing in online casino gaming, Unibet offers a diverse catalog of games including 21 Blackjack variants, 16 different Table Games, Video Poker, 17 Roulette variants, and a whopping 722 different slots games. While Steam does have a selection of online poker and casino games available, a dedicated iGaming platform like Unibet Casino also offers a lot more in terms of game variety and special offers.
Origin
The place to go for EA games (Origin is the gaming publisher’s storefront), this platform offers a huge catalog of titles many of which are Origin-exclusives, as well as several non-EA games up for grabs too, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (CD Projekt RED) and Final Fantasy XV (Square Enix).
Origin differentiates itself from Steam by offering a premium subscription service, Origin Access. Ranging from $5 per month to $30 per year, membership comes with unlimited access to the EA Vault, which houses 91 archived games like Dead Space 2, Mass Effect: Andromeda, and Titanfall 2. Members also receive a 10% discount on all new game purchases and a free monthly game that lasts for as long as each membership.
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