Steam vs itch.io : Which is Better?

Steam icon

Steam

Steam is a digital game distribution platform developed by Valve corporation. Developed by Valve Corporation

License: Free Personal

Categories: Games

Apps available for Mac OS X Windows Linux Online Android

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itch.io icon

itch.io

itch.io is a website for users to host, sell and download indie video games. Developed by leaf corcoran

License: Free

Categories: Games

Apps available for Mac OS X Windows Linux Online

Steam VS itch.io

Steam is a massive platform that caters to both AAA and indie games, offering a wide variety of features and a larger user base, making it ideal for mainstream gaming and mod support. On the other hand, itch.io focuses on indie developers and provides a more flexible environment for experimental games and direct sales, which makes it a great choice for niche and indie titles.

Steam

Pros:

  • Large game library with AAA and indie titles
  • Strong community features and forums
  • Regular sales and discounts
  • Robust user interface and experience
  • Mod support for many games
  • Game streaming capabilities
  • Comprehensive developer tools and analytics
  • Extensive user reviews and ratings
  • Cross-platform support
  • Frequent updates and new features

Cons:

  • High revenue share taken from developers
  • Complexity in navigating the platform
  • Overwhelming number of games can hinder discovery
  • Requires a client to access games
  • May have region restrictions on some titles
  • Can be saturated with low-quality titles
  • Occasional server issues during sales
  • Less indie-focused compared to itch.io
  • Not as supportive of experimental games
  • Long approval times for new releases

itch.io

Pros:

  • Strong focus on indie games and developers
  • Easier entry for new developers
  • Flexible revenue sharing model
  • Community-driven curation
  • Simple interface for developers
  • No restrictions on game content
  • Support for experimental and niche games
  • Direct developer-to-player sales
  • Customization options for game pages
  • Low barriers to entry for publishing

Cons:

  • Smaller game library compared to Steam
  • Limited marketing and visibility for games
  • Less robust community features
  • Fewer sales and promotional events
  • No built-in streaming services
  • Some users may prefer mainstream titles
  • Less user engagement compared to larger platforms
  • Not as many user-generated mods available
  • Difficult to monetize larger projects
  • Lower user base compared to Steam

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