OSU why didn't publish on steam?

[Hime-Dev]

Hello, there are players from all over the world, but why hasn't it been released on the steam market until now? Wouldn't it be better if it was published on the Steam market?

[peppy]

We get this request once in a while. Generally we won't push to steam unless there's a lot of demand.

[Schweeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

We (Schweeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and Papertobi) suggest that osu!lazer should be made available on Steam. The game has now become stable and polished, and we believe it would greatly benefit from the accessibility that the Steam platform provides.

By adding the Steam Early Access tag, players would understand that the game is still in development. The ease of use provided by Steam would make the installation process simpler and more intuitive for new players.

Moreover, bringing osu!lazer to Steam would make it easier to play on devices such as the Steam Deck. The added support for controllers through Steam XInput would make the game more accessible to players who prefer using controllers over traditional mouse and keyboard controls.

In addition, the changelog for the game could also be made available on Steam, since people are familiar with the Steam changelog system. Additionally, there could be guides on the Steam community page to help new players get started with the game, such as a guide to move the mouse or set up the trackpad or learn streams.

By making osu!lazer available on Steam, we believe the game would be exposed to a much larger audience than it currently has, potentially expanding the player base and community.

This text was written and suggested by the osu!lazer Community members Schweeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and PaperTobi.

[peppy]

Thanks for your suggestions! I can't guarantee any movement on this issue as we've run this game stand-alone and independent until now, but do understand your concerns about accessibility, especially with the steam dick now being a thing.

Given that we are pushing towards mobile releases on app stores, they may be a future where it appears on steam. But the amount of work required to make this happen (and to maintain it) would be equal to a third mobile OS, so again, no guarantees.

[Hime-Dev]

I don't have any general information about publish a game to steam, all I know is a price of 100$ something. If there will be other expenses like this, osu will gladly help the players (at least I think so). I don't know if you need osu development for publish on steam market but osu lazer! publish on steam market wouldn't be bad. Thank you for everything.

[Schweeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

#22694 (comment)
I meant that

It would be more accessible and controllers/updating (for linux :( ) would be supported out of the box as far as I know.

[Temanor]

I would also love to see a steam release now that lazer is starting to take over for stable.

[shps18ppt]

It wouldn't be worth it going on Steam as osu! has been a standalone software for almost 15+ years, and still gain popularity. And yes, although it would reach more players, it wouldn't be worth it as I believe peppy won't make use of the Steam API (achievements, multiplayer server, etc.). What peppy and the osu! team can do is make a separate build with the Steam APIs and can either use their own server or Steam's. I hope this comment can give a scenario of what would happen and why best not to put it on Steam. It does have a advantage and that is to port osu! to the Steam Deck, tho.

ps: uploading a game to steam is expensive as an indie game dev and tbh, wouldn't be worth it unless if its a whole gamedev studio. peppy can make it only compatible to the steam deck and force everyone to download it standalone if on pc/mac.

[ZenoG2]

It's $100 not $10000 so it's not that hard. The devs would take a minor hit on their next paycheck but nothing huge.

[rejedai]

+1 for steam.

I believe that the game can even be sold, for a symbolic 1, 5, 10 dollars, additional profit will not be superfluous, while remaining free version on the site.

[ZenoG2]

Nope. Valve forces prices to be identical everywhere.

[Temanor]

Nope. Valve forces prices to be identical everywhere.

Wasn't this only for steam keys?
"It is important that you don't give Steam customers a worse deal than Steam key purchasers"

I believe there might have been some emails saying otherwise in a recent lawsuit, but the user agreement doesn't say anything about this, so I would assume that was just a misunderstanding.

[ZenoG2]

Even then, making your game cost money on one platform and be free on another gives the player a bad impression. It's really scummy.
Imagine buying the game on Steam and realising that it was free on the site. I'd be reallly mad if that happened to me, especially considerring that I couldn't care less about what store front it is from, like about 85% of osu! players.

[Temanor]

I agree. I think that if it is ever published on Steam, it should be free there as well.

[brunoaaveloso]

Would also love and buy Osu! day one on Steam. Hopefully devs reconsider a Steam launch.

[EverydayLolicon]

It'd be great to see it on Steam

[ZenoG2]

I don't think that it is happening since the devs would have to pay a 30% tax of all Supporter purchases to Valve.
Why would they pay that when they can just... not? People already go to the site to download osu! so it's unlikely to result in more players.

[Temanor]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that is only for in-game purchases that utilizes the steam wallet.
Osu! supporter is only bought through the website anyways. There would be no need to pay any fee.

[ZenoG2]

This blatantly goes against the Steam TOS. You have to sell all microtransactions on Steam.