This is just one example of many other developers are now making certain titles and deals exclusive to their own stores. The Epic Games Store has come out strong among this field of competitors, which also includes clients like EA's Origin service and DesuraĮpic made headlines by nabbing exclusive release date access to Borderlands 3 though still available for sale on Steam, Epic Store users could access the title weeks earlier than any other platform. Major developers are increasingly moving away from Steam in favor of their own proprietary clients. Though Steam is still a strong contender in the digital storefront arena, there are a few signs that the platform is showing its age. Those looking for sweet deals should also check out the free to play section, which curates any titles that can be played with no charge. There are also frequent sales outside of the annual events, and you'll probably find that you can quickly fill your Steam library without emptying your wallet.

The best way to get new titles for ridiculous discounts is simply to wait for a Steam sale, and then snag them at prices that dip as low as 80% off. During these events, Steam puts thousands of titles on sale for steep discounts, and that also applies to new releases. Another major factor that keeps Steam standing out from the crowd are their epic annual sale events, such as the now-infamous Steam Summer Sale. Of course, it's impossible to talk about Steam without talking about sales. If you're looking for something new and unique, take the time to check out the indie library or browse the community boards to hear about upcoming releases from smaller studios.

It's easy for independent developers to list their titles on Steam, and this has given rise to hits like Hollow Knight, Cuphead, and Hotline Miami. Sure, Steam has the latest titles from the most famous studios, but they also make a point of attracting smaller indie studios. Perhaps the biggest standout feature is Steam's vast library of indie games.

Though Steam has been around since 2003, it continues to stand out in an increasingly crowded field by making offerings other digital storefronts don’t. At its core, Steam is a vast digital game store. Though you can access many of Steam's features in-browser, you can also download and install Steam as a standalone client for your desktop if you want to get the most out of the software. Available for free online, Steam can run in your browser window. Steam has since moved beyond a simple game store to become a one-stop hub for PC gamers. Though most game developers now have their own online storefronts, Steam was the platform that started it all.

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