Ex-Epic Games Engineer Slams Steam: 'No Amount of Competition Will Ever Unseat' Valve

IGN · 2026-11-02
Ex-Epic Games Engineer Slams Steam: 'No Amount of Competition Will Ever Unseat' Valve

A former Epic Games engineer has launched a scathing critique of Valve's Steam platform, arguing that its entrenched dominance has stifled competition in the PC gaming market. The engineer, who previously worked at Epic—the company behind the Epic Games Store—outlined a series of industry-wide issues attributed to Steam's overwhelming market share. While Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has frequently criticized Valve's 30% revenue cut, this latest commentary goes further, suggesting Steam's position is effectively unassailable. The remarks highlight the ongoing tension between Epic and Valve, two giants vying for control of digital game distribution. The engineer's post underscores growing frustration among developers who feel locked into Steam's ecosystem despite its policies. As the battle for PC gaming supremacy continues, the question remains whether any challenger can truly disrupt Valve's hold on the market.