Head of Epic Games Criticizes Steamworks

The head of Epic Games, Tim Sweeney, has once again criticized Valve. In a discussion on the social network X, he stated that Steamworks keeps PC games within a closed ecosystem and complicates interaction with users of other platforms and stores.

As reported by 3DNews, the occasion was a debate about Steam’s commission and the advantages of Steamworks tools. Sweeney believes that Valve’s approach is hindering the development of the gaming industry.

Some users disagreed with his arguments. In responses cited by the publication, participants in the discussion defended Steam and pointed out the shortcomings of Epic Games’ own store. However, these comments do not reflect the opinion of the entire gaming community.

The technical aspect of the dispute also requires clarification. According to Valve’s documentation, the Steam Datagram Relay service can support players on other platforms and in third-party stores. One of the conditions is the availability of the game on Steam. Additional integration and coordination with Valve are also necessary.

At the same time, the company explicitly warns that it cannot yet guarantee cross-platform support for all partners and games.

Thus, the claim about the complete closed nature of Steam’s network infrastructure is inaccurate. However, access to it outside the store is indeed provided under certain conditions. This is an important distinction that gets lost amid the sharp statements of discussion participants.