{
  "id": 16956546,
  "title": "Epic Games chief Tim Sweeney claims 'Valve has held gaming back for years'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/epic-games-chief-tim-sweeney-claims-valve-has-held-gaming-back-for",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-28T21:00:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/software/platforms/epic-games-chief-tim-sweeney-claims-valve-has-held-gaming-back-for-years/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney recently criticized Valve's Steam platform, claiming it has hindered gaming for years by forcing developers into Steamworks, a social walled garden that restricts players from interacting across various platforms. Sweeney pointed out the 30% cut Valve takes from game sales on Steam, which he believes is an egregious amount for developers. He argued that developers could easily create a better distribution platform, free from Steam's restrictions and the 30% cut. However, he acknowledged that Steam's dominance in the PC gaming market makes it difficult for developers to abandon it. Sweeney's comments come in response to a former Epic employee's criticism of Valve's 30% cut, which he believes is too high and hinders the growth of indie gaming.",
  "summary": "Sweeney says locking developers into the \"walled garden\" of Steamworks is a real problem.",
  "key_points": [
    "Tim Sweeney criticizes Valve's Steam platform for hindering gaming.",
    "Valve's 30% cut from game sales on Steam is too high for developers.",
    "Sweeney acknowledges Steam's dominance makes it hard for developers to leave."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}