Words have meaning. Though their definitions may change over time, words convey ideas that help explain the world and bring context to it. As such, it's important not to misuse them, lest confusion reign. Shemue III making its way to PC as an Epic Game Store exclusive is one example of this.

If you haven't been following the Shenmue III controversy, here it is in a nutshell: during E3, publisher Deep Silver revealed that the long-awaited title would not be headed to Steam as originally stated; instead, it would find a PC home in Epic's marketplace. Anger quickly ensued. Blood boiled. The internet went full internet. "How dare Shenmue III be an Epic Game Store exclusive?" was the most vocal related sentiment.

Yet, Shemue III exclusivity only matters if you work for Epic Games or Valve, the company that owns the Steam store. If you're a gamer, you're just an Epic Game Store client download away from experiencing Ryo Hazuki's continued adventures.

The PC Game Exclusivity Illusion

Now, I cannot speak on the legalities of a Kickstarted product being promised for one digital game store and delivered to another, but I can say this: we as a gaming community need to stop speaking with publishers' words. It gets us nowhere and results only in online bickering.

Though Shenmue III is an Epic Game Store exclusive, it is not locked behind an impenetrable wall. Unlike consoles that lock you into purchasing video games from the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, or Xbox Live, PCs give you the freedom to shop where you like. My gaming desktop currently has the Steam, Xbox, and Epic Game Store apps installed, and that's just a portion of a PC gaming marketplace that also includes Battle.net, GOG, Origin, and other clients. There is no PC game in a digital storefront that I cannot play on my Windows 10-powered rig.

So, I ask you: where is the exclusivity? Though Steam is where I purchase or redeem the majority of my PC games, I have zero issue firing up another game store app. They're just launchers, after all. If a game existing in a single game store—a store that you can access at any time after creating an account—is what keeps you from playing it, you didn't really want it. Or worse, you're a store fanboy, a concept that I didn't realize existed until the Epic Game Store's arrival prompted Steam adherents to drop super-spicy takes.

That mentality is one that benefits publishers, not you and fellow gamers. Ponder the concept: a game is "exclusive" on PC because one storefront has the ability to sell it. Yet, if your computer hardware matches the minimum specs, you can play it without question.

The Exception

That said, I do see an issue with PC game store exclusivity, and it's one that isn't likely to become commonplace. Earlier this year, Epic Games purchased Psyonix, the publisher behind the mega popular and insanely fun Rocket League.The game is set for an Epic Game Store debut in late 2019, which could potentially be a problem.

Rocket League has a strong Steam user base, and is consistently one of the platform's best sellers. Now, if Epic decides that no other shopkeep should get a piece of that sweet Rocket League pie and brings it to the Epic Games Store, a large number of players will be left high and dry.

The move would also raise many questions. Would Epic leave the Steam version unsupported and focus only on updating the Epic Game Store version? Would Epic force you to buy the game (and potentially the DLC) again if you're a Steam user who plans to migrate to Epic Game Store? Would Epic ignore the inevitable cross-play plea from Steam users who want to enter contests with the Epic Game Store players?

Still, this is an outlier situation, and not one that should be used to support awful takes—like the idea that two major game stores will fracture the PC gaming community. That makes zero sense. If, for example, Epic Game Store is the only shop that sells Game X, guess what? If my friends and I want to mix it up in Game X, we'll buy it from Epic Game Store. It's that simple.

The Competitive Calm

With Epic Game Store's rise, Steam finally has competition that's going for its throat. As Epic continues to gobble up exclusives, be they of the timed or permanent varieties, the conflict will benefit you, the gamer. Perhaps seasonal sales will receive deeper cuts across the many shops. Perhaps we'll see new and innovative app features. Perhaps Valve will go all-in on the idea of being a video game maker again.

So keep Epic Game Store, Steam, and the many other PC video game shops on your desktop. The many options are a benefit, not a hindrance. Follow the games, not publishers' talking points.

"Don't talk like one of them, you're not! Even if you'd like to be" is a line from Chistopher Nolan's The Dark Knight that immediately comes to mind, and summarizes my stance on this topic. It's also a line to keep in mine the next time you fire up your rig.

Plus, with that said, Shenmue III is headed to Steam less than three months after its Epic Game Store debut. What's this exculsivity anger about, again?

Further Reading

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