Epic actually financed Remedy’s development of the game, as opposed to swooping in at the last minute to offer a timed-exclusivity deal. In that case I was fine buying the game on their platform if it meant the game got to exist at all. After all I do not expect Valve to sell their games on another platform than their own.
Don’t get me wrong: I’d rather the game was sold on Steam, or even better, DRM-less on GOG. I did wait for a number of those timed exclusives to find their way on Steam or other stores (Borderlands 3, Kena, Journey, Control, Hades, etc). It’s a shame that so many people will not get to experience AW2 because of its delivery platform, because it’s a damn unique game.
The people laid off in 2023 (no less than 16% of the company’s headcount) might have opinions upon hearing that.