Night of the Living Game Launchers

In the ancient days of...about 9 years ago, in the PC Gaming world, in the mystical year of 2013, three opponents were fighting it out for dominance.

Steam, Valve's Ancient One (by about a decade at that point).

Origin, EA's Inigo Montoya out for revenge for the death of its daddy, the infutiatingly bad EA Downloader.

Uplay, Ubisoft's uninvited ginger-haired stepchild guest with B.O. that wouldn't leave us well enough alone.

Origin was attempting to hold its own against the awesome might of Steam, while Uplay was flailing its sword around in the wrong direction.

There were others, of course, even then. But they were minor carrion-feeders at the time.

In 2022, 18 years after Steam's unveiling and the introduction into a brave new reality of needing a separate application to buy and play games, things have changed a lot.

Back then, the concept of a gaming launcher/storefront was something that alienated quite a few people at the time - remember, us old-timers were used to buying hard-copies.

(Us *really* old-timers know this was more than a DVD case with a 2-page promo/manual printout and a disc - it was a cardboard box, with a beefy manual, a jewel case with the disc and often tons of freebies like maps, coins, figures, booklets etc)

But what is it that has changed, exactly, in those 9 years?
Let's break it down.

For the sake of simplicity, in here we'll explore all the launchers and/or major services and/or major storefronts available to PC gamers in January 2022. We will not be covering gamekey resellers such as GreenManGaming which have had their actions' and goods' legality questioned recently, nor will we be covering game-specific launchers.


So, here goes.

Name:	Steam
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What it is:	Valve’s pioneer is still dominating the scene in 2022 like a megalodon orbited by various sized remoras.
What can you do with it?	Browse a vast store, purchase games and software, download them on any computer you log your account in and play them. Includes forums, friend lists, a marketplace, a workshop and many more social features.
Do you need it?	Yes. Yes you do.
Is it forced on you?	Not technically, but it’s basically the same way Coca Cola is not forced on you when you want a cola drink. Sure, you can drink Pepsi or a smaller brand, but it’s not as good.
Pros:	Huge catalogue of games and software Extensive linux support Automatic updates Cloud saving Frequent sales Easy to use and generally bug-free Pushing of new tech and compatibilities with SteamOS, linux support, Steam Controller, Steam boxes, Big Picture, VR et al.
Cons:	Nothing good comes off monopoly - Valve charges publishers a steep cut to to all games purchased on their storefront Some publishers deliberately avoid it or launch their games as timed exclusives on other platforms
Personal opinion:	You can’t spell “steaming hot gaming session” without “steam”
Rating:	9/10

Name:	Origin / EA Desktop
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What it is:	Origin has been a small-scale, EA-specific Steam for years. It’s currently sharing that function with EA Desktop (currently in Beta) and will be discontinued by the end of 2022, to be replaced entirely by EA Desktop. Its initial goal was to avoid the aforementioned steep cut of Valve from sales of their games. At the time it had first launched, this was not wide-spread knowledge, and this being EA, people just piled on it with wild abandon.
What can you do with it?	Browse EA games catalogue (not comprehensive and omits many, many older games) as well as some 3rd party games, purchase them, download them on any computer you log your account in and play them. Limited social features.
Do you need it?	Honestly? No. All the games on their catalogue can also be purchased on other platforms.
Is it forced on you?	Yes, certain games such as Battlefield, FIFA or Need For Speed need it, even if purchased or acquired on another platform, and will install it on your system.
Pros:	Good prices No fuss refund policy Blazing-fast download speeds EA Play, a subscription-based plan that gives access to different tiers of the catalogue for one low flat monthly fee.
Cons:	Clunky, unintuitive UI in both iterations Limited catalogue EA desktop has showcased some pretty buggy behaviour for me so far, but am keeping an open mind since it’s in Beta.
Personal opinion:	I used to like and defend Origin as I found the hate against it unwarranted. In 2022, I can’t see its -or its replacement’s- point.
Rating:	3/10

Name:	Ubisoft Connect (formerly Uplay)
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What it is:	Rebranded as Ubisoft Connect fairly recently, Uplay has in fact carved its own niche in the scene. While still essentially needless, it does have some nice perks and advantages that mask this at first sight.
What can you do with it?	Browse a Ubisoft-specific catalogue (like EA’s one, this also omits many older titles), purchase them, download them from your account and play them.
Do you need it?	Not really. But because of the cloud sync and the rewards, you need it in the same way you need a kickstand for your phone - it’s not the 1st thing that comes to mind, but on the occasions you want it, it’s nice that it’s there.
Is it forced on you?	Yes. If you want to play Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Watchdogs, For Honor, Rainbow Six or a bunch of others, you can’t avoid it.
Pros:	Each game purchase comes with a set of challenges and a set of rewards for the game. Challenges award coins, while rewards cost coins. These are usually cosmetics or in-game items. Giveaways every now and then. Includes cloud saving across devices and across platforms - if you are (for whatever reason) owning and playing the same game on PC and PS or Xbox, provided you are logged into Ubisoft Connect on all instances, your saves, DLCs and settings carry over. You can redeem a bunch of coins for a one-time 20% discount on your cart - regardless of size or contents. This means that, provided you play the games and accumulate coins to use this way, buying from Connect directly is almost always the cheapest way to acquire Ubisoft games - especially new releases that have not gone on discount elsewhere yet.
Cons:	Apart from the specific pros above, there is no point to it. Very limited social features
Personal opinion:	Can’t really avoid it these days, but it’s not as bad as it used to be.
Rating:	6/10

Name:	GoG Galaxy
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What it is:	A launcher created by CD Projekt Red as a centralised app for the storefront of gog.com, doubling as a drm measure for Witcher 3.
What can you do with it?	Browse and purchase from the store of gog.com, download and install games, keep them automatically updated, and micromanage your library
Do you need it?	Eh. An argument can be made for both a positive and a negative answer. It’s convenient, and a boon especially for OCD collectors with large libraries as an alternative to spreadsheets, but it’s not essential - for now.
Is it forced on you?	No - most everything can also be downloaded from the website as a DRM-free version that can be used as-is, and what can’t be (such as CD Projekt Red’s own Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077) is also available on other platforms (such as Steam)
Pros:	Large store catalogue via webview of gog.com Incredibly comprehensive selection of older and/or classic games, curated and updated to work on modern systems Highly customisable library with integration to almost all other platforms Ability to manually add games (across any platform) as owned - making this a definitive way to view your entire games collection, down to Gameboy cartridges Cloud saving and syncing Games purchased on it usually come with a slew of goodies such as artbooks, concept art, soundtracks etc Frequent sales
Cons:	Limited social features Limited catalogue in terms of recent AAA titles
Personal opinion:	Galaxy is a modern tablet with several history books loaded into it - for some people (myself included) it’s essential, but others may not desire what it has to offer.
Rating:	9/10

Name:	Battle.net
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What it is:	Blizzard’s (and now Activision’s as well), service/storefront/ launcher for their specific catalogue. This includes some of the most lucrative franchises ever to appear in gaming, such as Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Hearthstone and Call of Duty (from a point onwards - older CoDs can still be found on Steam, for example). Battle.net predates everything else by a looong time (being used so far back as Warcraft 2 in 1995), but today’s Battle.net resembles the Battle.net of old in name only.
What can you do with it?	Purchase, download and play a specific catalogue of games and DLCs with cloud sync, automatic updates and social features.
Do you need it?	For these specific games? Yes. If you don’t play WoW, Overwatch, Starcraft, Call of Duty, Hearthstone, Diablo et al? No.
Is it forced on you?	Yes, for these specific games.
Pros:	Intuitive and utilitarian UI Fast downloads Cloud sync
Cons:	Limited store catalogue No direct launching grid or option via macro/shortcut.
Personal opinion:	It’s a case of “you ain’t got a choice”. Thankfully it’s not a bad piece of software.
Rating:	7/10

Name:	Bethesda Launcher
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What it is:	Somewhat akin to Battle.net, with the difference of having the Bethesda catalogue instead.
What can you do with it?	Buy and launch Bethesda games.
Do you need it?	No, but you need an account in it.
Is it forced on you?	Yes, for some specific titles like Fallout 76 (but not, say, for the most recent Doom Eternal)
Pros:	None
Cons:	It has no real purpose
Personal opinion:	Why would you install this?
Rating:	1/10

Name:	Rockstar Games Launcher
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What it is:	Exactly as above, but for Rockstar games.
What can you do with it?	Buy and launch Rockstar games.
Do you need it?	No - all games are also available on other platforms, but you do need an account on it.
Is it forced on you?	Not that I remember.
Pros:	Um…unobtrusive
Cons:	No real point to it.
Personal opinion:	Again: why would you install this?
Rating:	2/10

Name:	Epic Games Launcher
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What it is:	A response to Steam’s purchase fee for publishers - it doesn’t have many original or exclusive titles, but focuses on hitting Steam where it hurts: right in the monopoly, using competitive pricing and timed exclusives
What can you do with it?	Barebones browsing of a large catalogue (with many AAA titles), purchase, download and play them
Do you need it?	Not really - unless you want to play a timed exclusive asap (past examples include Borderlands 3 and Metro Exodus, with more sure to come in the future)
Is it forced on you?	No - it’s entirely optional.
Pros:	Competitive pricing Regular generous giveaways and discounts Lightweight
Cons:	Missing all the features, bells and whistles we’ve grown accustomed to Some teething buggy behaviour every now and then (for example games launched from it refuse to detect my Xbox One controller that works normally elsewhere) No social features to write home about
Personal opinion:	While initially I was not a fan, it’s slowly winning me over as I see it for what it is: a pressure point for Steam to not rest on its laurels and improve, rather than aiming to be its replacement.
Rating:	8/10

Name:	Humble Bundle
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What it is:	A charity-driven online store that sells mostly bundles (as well as singular games). These bundles are mostly games, but at times have been bundles of books, audiobooks, digital comics, software, android apps etc. A variable (by you) percentage of each purchase goes to a rotating roster of charities.
What can you do with it?	Browse the store and/or bundles, make purchases, then redeem those purchases (via code keys) to different platforms such as Steam, Origin, Ubisoft Connect, GoG etc. There is also a subscription service that nets you a bundle (usually 10-12) of games each month. This subscription used to be a stellar value, but the past couple of years its quality has steadily declined to include many stinkers.
Do you need it?	The website/service, no, it’s entirely optional. The just-announced launcher looks like it might be needed for its continued use once it’s out, though, but that remains to be seen.
Is it forced on you?	See above.
Pros:	Easy and cheap way to build (read=bloat) up your library really fast and discover games you might not have tried otherwise. Low prices (especially for subscribers) Frequent sales Some bundles are insanely good You can give games included in purchased bundles that you already own away as gifts
Cons:	Bundles have been steadily declining in effective value (though we were just promised improvements on the whole system)
Personal opinion:	I still have feelings for Humble Bundle, but can’t say I am in love with it anymore.
Rating:	6/10

Name:	Game Pass
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What it is:	A storefront/mask that Windows Store wears, but most importantly a subscription service that works a little like Netflix - there are hundreds of games available at any given time, with ample warnings of which ones are coming soon and which ones are going away soon.
What can you do with it?	Browse a very large catalogue, choose, download and play as many games as you want at no additional cost. This catalogue includes Day 1 releases of studios owned by Microsoft (for example, Bethesda games, Halo, Forza etc). The PC version of Game Pass also includes EA Play (see above). You can also make purchases (if you want, via Windows Store integration)
Do you need it?	Not technically. But I think you do.
Is it forced on you?	No, it’s an optional service.
Pros:	Low subscription cost with insane value for money Ultimate “try-or-even-play-before-you-buy” method with minimal hassle A very wide variety of genres and titles Relatively easy UI Fast downloads Added bonus: if you also own an Xbox One or above, your PC subscription also applies to it for console exclusives.
Cons:	Some games sneak in additional software (meaning EA Desktop) Infrequent bugs (like downloads getting stuck)
Personal opinion:	Hands down, I think this is the most serious competitor to Steam at this time.
Rating:	9/10

Name:	Playstation Now
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What it is:	A subscription service of stream-playing a curated library of Playstation 2, 3 and 4 games on PC.
What can you do with it?	Stream gameplay of a Playstation library to your PC - in essence, the game runs elsewhere, but you’re playing it.
Do you need it?	Not really - it’s probably easier to hunt down a PS2/3/4 and the games you want to play in the used market.
Is it forced on you?	No - entirely optional
Pros:	An aging Playstation library in your PC at a low-ish monthly cost.
Cons:	I don’t feel streaming games is quite there yet for most of the world.
Personal opinion:	I have not been able to personally test this, as I have never lived in a country where it’s available.
Rating:	N/A

Name:	Indie Gala
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What it is:	Very much like Humble Bundle, with three key differences. A focus on indie games, a dedicated hentai/adult section, and community giveaways. A launcher for purchased content was recently launched with their 10 year anniversary.
What can you do with it?	Browse the store and/or bundles, make purchases, then redeem those purchases (via code keys) on Steam or download DRM-free files. There are also community “auctions” and giveaways - almost never something actually worth owning though.
Do you need it?	Honestly? No - the quality of its exclusive indie content leaves a lot to be desired, and with Steam edging into its hentai/sexual content niche it’s less relevant than ever
Is it forced on you?	No. It’s entirely optional.
Pros:	Frequent sales and promos Low prices Niche indie demographic Niche hentai game haven
Cons:	Buggy behaviour on Chrome sometimes If you’re a casual or AAA gamer, it’s more or less pointless for you.
Personal opinion:	I have made purchases on it, but regret 90% of them.
Rating:	2/10

Name:	Microsoft Store
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What it is:	A built-in store in Windows 8 and above for the super casual gamer that also includes Microsoft-sentric AAA titles
What can you do with it?	Browse said store, make purchases and keep them automatically updated.
Do you need it?	No - but good luck trying to get rid of it.
Is it forced on you?	If you are gaming on Linux or Mac, no. But if you want to game on Windows where most PC games live, it is.
Pros:	Large library of games (mostly casual, but also some AAA ones) and apps that are verified to work. It’s…um…there, I guess?
Cons:	Clunky UI Confusing pricing Every game on it also exists elsewhere
Personal opinion:	There is absolutely no reason to use it.
Rating:	1/10