c/gaming · by GamingBot@lemmy.zip · 88d

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney throws shade at Valve / Gabe Newell for Steam Deck pricing

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/05/epic-games-ceo-tim-sweeney-throws-shade-at-valve-gabe-newell-for-steam-deck-pricing/

38 points · 30 comments · view on lemmy.world

30 Comments

MagnificentSteiner@lemmy.zip · 100 pts · 88d

Where's the "Epic deck" Tim? Oh that's right, after 8 years you still can't properly make a website for buying games.

Not to stand up for Valve directly here but just to make a point (because we all know companies are not our friends) - but hold on a moment, isn't this the same CEO who forced over 1,000 people to look for work elsewhere after laying off a whole lot of people? Yes it is. Sweeney has also been quite vocal about support for generative AI, you know - that thing driving up prices of everything everywhere. So perhaps Sweeney is not exactly the best person to be throwing shade around like this.

Well said Liam.

Klanky@sopuli.xyz · 40 pts · 88d

artyom@piefed.social · 39 pts · 88d

Alternative title: guy causing hardware prices to go up insults competitor for raising prices.

crazycraw@crazypeople.online · 28 pts · 88d

price gouger says what

Ludicrous0251@piefed.zip · 26 pts · 88d

Lootbox billionaire has an issue with exploiting consumers? Sounds more like jealousy to me.

cronenthal@discuss.tchncs.de · 24 pts · 88d

Sweeney is just so insufferable.

Korhaka@sopuli.xyz · 21 pts · 88d (9 replies)

What could valve do? They can't sell them at a loss compared to component prices.

If they tried to target lower budget/spec for some steam machines that might help though. But really have we ever expected people to do much gaming on a £500 system? Sure it's always been possible but it's also always been pretty limited.

unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de · 5 pts · 88d (8 replies)

They were definitely selling at a huge loss with the original prices and depending on how hard their suppliers got hit, they might still be selling at a loss now. The game sales will make up for it.

Korhaka@sopuli.xyz · 6 pts · 88d (3 replies)

You don't have to buy games from them though, if it's at a loss people would start buying them for other uses too

unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de · 13 pts · 88d

people would start buying them for other uses too

They very much are...

klankin@piefed.ca · 6 pts · 88d

Theres also a lot of hardware on them that is useless for server use, but still adds cost.

So its probably still cheaper just to buy a used server instead of an army of mid steam decks.

belated_frog_pants@beehaw.org · 1 pts · 88d

They very much do. There are countless tutorials on using it for other things than steam

mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 87d (3 replies)

They were definitely selling at a huge loss with the original prices

No they weren't. There is literally 0 proof of that. Quit spreading misinformation

unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de · 0 pts · 87d (2 replies)

There is absolutely no way that 350€ was not a loss for them. The also basically said that indirectly. And if you include all the software dev work that goes into the platform it gets even more cost intensive for them.

https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/gabe-newell-says-steam-decks-aggressive-pricing-painful-but-critical-2995253

mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 87d

"Painful" could easily (and mostly likely) refer to extremely low profit margins that would take several years to pay off the development costs. And that quote specifically refers to the base 64GB version. The price difference between that and the 256GB version was way more than the increase in storage costs, despite that being the only difference.

Also, I absolutely knew you were going to reply with this quote despite it not being evidence. Congrats on being extremely predictable.

Orygin@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 87d

It never sold at 350€, it started at 350£/400€ at launch for the 64bg LCD. The price point being painful does not mean they sell at loss.

shirasho@feddit.online · 17 pts · 88d

This coming from a guy who is turning Unreal Engine 6 into a Fortnite engine.

samus12345@sh.itjust.works · 14 pts · 88d (1 reply)

This asshole has more money than Gabe. People who ride in glass megayachts shouldn't throw stones.

SharkAttak@kbin.melroy.org · 3 pts · 88d

Can orcas use simple tools, like sticks or stones? Just curious.

Sanctus@anarchist.nexus · 13 pts · 88d

Shut up, Tim, you whiney bitch and put Rocket League back on Steam. You know you are losing with every move you make and thats why you bitch.

commander@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 88d

Didn't they jack up Fortnite prices for whatever sort of DLC they do. All I remember news about their "metaverse" creators being enabled to sell for in game stuff and it being as predatory or worse than roblox

TheGreenWizard@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 87d

Tim "Stop gate keeping Grok just because it generated a little CP" Sweeny, sure loves hearing his own voice.

zewm@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 88d (4 replies)

Maybe I’m confused here. Is this not the same guy that sells the same Skyrim every year with a new name?

danciestlobster@lemmy.zip · 17 pts · 88d (3 replies)

Nah that's Todd Howard. Same vibe though

fruitycoder@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 88d (1 reply)

Also not to be confused with charasmatic cannible Sweeny Todd

Again same vibe

mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 87d

I though that was Shia Lebouf

zewm@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 88d