Once again Valve proves they actually understand what people want; a relatively cheap and effective system that lets people play the games they want to play
I think the big difference is that they seem to be optimizing for customer satisfaction where others are not.
My favorite example I use often is how the Steam Deck comes with a case. It’s free and there’s not even an option to not get it. They know you need one, they include it. The Switch doesn’t come with a case. They know you need one but they don’t care. You’ll buy one if you want it bad enough and that’s more revenue.
I had a first gen and bought it at a discount (10% for Newsletter sign up I immediately cancelled after ordering hah). Iirc it cost me about 350€ which was still a lot but compared to what’s going on now…
Gifted it to my mother for the grandkids because I bought a steamdeck and never used the switch again.
I honestly don’t understand why most companies aren’t private instead of public. Like which founder looks forward to answering to investors when they could just be answerable to themselves and their employees and maybe board, like are they looking for a massive exit payout by going public or to raise funds to become a bigger company, but I argue if you are making enough to be profitable why chase being bigger
Once again Valve proves they actually understand what people want; a relatively cheap and effective system that lets people play the games they want to play
I think the big difference is that they seem to be optimizing for customer satisfaction where others are not.
My favorite example I use often is how the Steam Deck comes with a case. It’s free and there’s not even an option to not get it. They know you need one, they include it. The Switch doesn’t come with a case. They know you need one but they don’t care. You’ll buy one if you want it bad enough and that’s more revenue.
It’s just a different type of optimization.
I have a switch that never left the house, definitely not needed.
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I had a first gen and bought it at a discount (10% for Newsletter sign up I immediately cancelled after ordering hah). Iirc it cost me about 350€ which was still a lot but compared to what’s going on now…
Gifted it to my mother for the grandkids because I bought a steamdeck and never used the switch again.
Two things massively help Valve:
Steam is a goddamned money printing machine, they are the most profitable software company per capita, per employee… possibly bar none.
Also… they’re not publically traded.
They do not have investors constantly forcing maximization of short term profits at the cost of literally everything else.
… So they can afford to … not price gauge everyone.
I honestly don’t understand why most companies aren’t private instead of public. Like which founder looks forward to answering to investors when they could just be answerable to themselves and their employees and maybe board, like are they looking for a massive exit payout by going public or to raise funds to become a bigger company, but I argue if you are making enough to be profitable why chase being bigger