Why is Call of Duty not launching on Steam?
Call of Duty is one of the most popular first-person shooter franchises in the gaming world, with a vast following across the globe. However, many fans of the franchise have been wondering why some of the recent Call of Duty games are not available on Steam, the popular digital distribution platform. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this decision and provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Call of Duty and Steam.
A Brief History of Call of Duty on Steam
Call of Duty was first released in 2003 and quickly gained popularity among gamers. In 2010, the franchise made its debut on Steam, a digital distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation. Since then, many Call of Duty games have been released on Steam, including some of the most popular titles such as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Black Ops.
The Decision to Exclude Call of Duty from Steam
In 2018, Activision, the publisher of Call of Duty, announced that the PC version of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 would skip Steam and launch exclusively on Blizzard’s Battle.net service. This decision sparked a lot of controversy among gamers, who were accustomed to playing Call of Duty games on Steam.
Why did Activision Choose to Exclude Call of Duty from Steam?
Activision has not officially stated why they chose to exclude Call of Duty from Steam, but there are several reasons that have been speculated by gamers and industry experts. Some of these reasons include:
• Better Control Over the Gaming Experience: By launching the game on Battle.net, Activision can have more control over the gaming experience, including server management, patching, and online features.
• Revenue Share: Activision may receive a higher revenue share from Battle.net than from Steam.
• Marketing Strategy: The move may be part of a larger marketing strategy to promote the Battle.net service and attract more gamers to the platform.
• Exclusive Content: The exclusivity deal may include exclusive content or bonuses for Battle.net users, which could incentivize gamers to choose the platform over Steam.
A Look at the Impact on Gamers
The decision to exclude Call of Duty from Steam has had a significant impact on gamers, who are used to playing the franchise on the platform. Here are some of the effects:
• Confusion and Frustration: Many gamers are confused and frustrated by the decision, as they are used to playing Call of Duty on Steam.
• Alternative Platforms: Some gamers have turned to alternative platforms such as Origin or the Microsoft Store to play Call of Duty.
• Loss of Gamers: The decision may have caused some gamers to lose interest in the franchise, as they are unable to play it on their preferred platform.
Conclusion
The decision to exclude Call of Duty from Steam has sparked a lot of controversy among gamers and has had a significant impact on the gaming community. While there are several reasons that have been speculated behind the decision, Activision has not officially stated why they chose to exclude the franchise from Steam. Regardless, gamers will continue to play Call of Duty on other platforms, and the franchise will continue to be one of the most popular in the gaming world.
FAQs
- What Call of Duty games are not available on Steam? The PC version of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is not available on Steam, and is instead available on Blizzard’s Battle.net service.
- Why did Activision choose to exclude Call of Duty from Steam? There are several reasons that have been speculated behind the decision, including better control over the gaming experience, revenue share, marketing strategy, and exclusive content.
- How has the decision affected gamers? The decision has caused confusion and frustration among gamers, and some have turned to alternative platforms to play the game.