Community MetaSteam | February 2019 - The Frontier of the Hyper-Toxic Pro-Consumer Computer Cowboy

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prudis

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The Kingdom of Beer and Porn
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what an early launch trailer :-D
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This launched on Thursday ;-)

Featuring simple and satisfying drifting and nitro mechanics, Super Pixel Racers lets players race it out in numerous modes from classic Rally to pixelated mayhem in Takedown. Splitscreen and online multiplayer on the pocket-sized versions of world famous racing locations like sandy Bahrein or snowy Canada and an energetic soundtrack is sure to make for addictive gameplay.

Features
The game lets you hop straight into the driver’s seat, but advanced features let players customize their racing experience even further. Your winnings let you purchase new cars of individual driving quality and upgrade schemes, from a pixelated F500 to your very own 16-bit Lancer Evolution. As the game progresses, find out which car suits the different disciplines and yourself best. Some features to look forward to are:
  • Rally Cross: Classic race against up to 7 other drivers
  • Rally: Reach checkpoints on a procedurally generated outdoor track
  • Land Rush: Be in front of the pack when the time ends
  • Takedown: Destroy the other cars
  • Hunt: Chase the target down
  • Drift Show: Score points by drifting
  • Thirteen Unique Racetracks: From desert dunes to the city streets. A host of unique pixel environments set the stage for some truly super pixel racing.
  • Hone your drifting, score some Nitro: The more you drift, the quicker your nitro gauge fills up. Use it for an instant hit of speed; equally useful for dodging obstacles or slamming into opponents.
  • Vehicle Damage & Explosion Mechanics: In-race collisions result in visible damage to your pixel racer. Once a car takes too many hits, it goes up in flames!
 
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RionaaM

Vogon Poetry Appreciator
Sep 6, 2018
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It continues to boggle my mind how so many think that people have a problem with epic store because it's not steam, when the problem is exclusivity. It's not about a damn extra launcher.
And even if it were, what's wrong with not wanting to install extra crap on my PC? I choose to install what I want, so if I'm being forced to use a new program, I have every right to complain.
 

Mor

Me llamo Willy y no hice la mili, pero vendo Chili
Sep 7, 2018
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Hit me up with recommendations for the March highlight thread. It'll be posted on here as well, but I'm too lazy to remember everything that releases.












 
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Ge0force

Excluding exclusives
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but honestly it's even more frustrating when it's coming from people you normally like.
This is exactly the reason why I'm ignoring certain game related sites for a while. It's easy to ignore Epic since there are plenty of other great games to play, but it's god damn frustrating to see editors, devs and gaming enthusiasts I like praising Epic's current strategy.

you know ... it's really sad to see, but i know why it's happening (or, well, at least i think i do): it's because most of those people don't really use steam as a platform, they use it as a launcher. They buy a game, install it, launch it, play it for a while ... and that's it. They don't really interact with​
any​
of the features steam provides. They don't visit forums, probably don't use the friends list, or guides, or achievements, or the activity feed, probably not even the wishlist, or anything else really. So for them it really​
is​
just another launcher. And combine that with all the negative sentiment they're seeing among their gamedev friends (and people they follow on twitter in general) ... and voila.​

Add to that the fact that volvo doesn't really communicate with journalists at all (unless they're launching a game once in a decade or something ... and even then it's barely a press release really. Hell, even when shit goes down and they try to contact volvo for comments - they usually don't get back to anyone) and you have what we can see right now. They don't know anything about steam because volvo doesn't send out press releases about new features or changes. This of course doesn't exonerate them from not actually willing to educate themselves about what's going on ... but hey, what can you do - that's most of the gaming journalism nowadays, barely anyone is willing to go beyond press releases ... UNLESS it's a hot story (usually when something blows up) because those generate clicks. Not that i can really blame them (for not willing to do more than the absolute minimum, just re-posting press releases) - journalism (especially games journalism) is a WOEFULLY underpaid job. You wouldn't be willing to go beyond absolute minimum if you were paid $30 (or less) per article either, i bet.​

And yeah, most of those articles sound the same because they ARE the same - epic is more than happy to send out press releases about every small thing they do or are planning on doing in the future. And Tim tweets ... a lot .... so does Sergey. Can you name even ONE volvo person on twitter (who isn't ex-Campo Santo, and without googling) who's willing to actually talk to people on a regular basis? Or even just one volvo employee on twitter AT ALL? (they are there, i know ... but they're all basically private accounts really)​
This makes a lot of sense. I guess most people really don't know what Valve does. And the only thing they read about them are Polygons terrible articles where they are shitting on Valve. I'm using Steam every day, and I wouldn't even be aware of the shovelware and toxicity if the media didn't write about it.

In any case, it is what it is. It goes without saying that this place is way, way better for normal and meaningful discussion.
Agreed. I have a lot of respect for the mods on Era, but the amount of console gamers shitting on pc related stuff is ridiculous. I'm done fighting a useless fight with these people.

Glad to see you here by the way. I always enjoy reading your insightful comments.

It's as simple as that. Epic has money and they're willing to spend it on moneyhatting and advertizing. Developers, publishers and journalists are either too shortsighted to realize or simply too greedy to care about the long-term damage to the health of the platform because Epic is dangling dollar bills in front of their faces. It's not about competition, the cut, the poor struggling publishers or any of that crap. It's about the fact that Epic is spending money around and Valve isn't. If Valve ever decided to open its coffers and start spending money on moneyhats and advertizing you'd see a drastic shift in coverage of the issue. I sincerely hope that they're smarter than that and that they'll stay their current course.
I hope so as well. Because Epic's moneyhats will end sooner or later. As long as a significant part of the PC gaming community keeps buying their games on Steam, there's no reason for devs to go Epic Store exclusive unless Epic pays them to do so.
 

AHA-Lambda

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Oct 9, 2018
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Hit me up with recommendations for the March highlight thread. It'll be posted on here as well, but I'm too lazy to remember everything that releases.
From memory

DMC5
The Occupation
The Sinking City (maybe? Devs have been very cagey about the date now and not confirmed either way)
Zanki Zero
Sekiro
Katana Zero
FFXV DLC
TWD S4E4
 
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lashman

lashman

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thesteamthread.com linking to here now?

How devious, someone using their monopoly on thesteamthread.com to prey on my insurmountable laziness. Guess I'm trapped here now. Forever.


This makes a lot of sense. I guess most people really don't know what Valve does. And the only thing they read about them are Polygons terrible articles where they are shitting on Valve. I'm using Steam every day, and I wouldn't even be aware of the shovelware and toxicity if the media didn't write about it.
yeah, exactly ... it's always interesting to see people (regular people, in forums and comments) say how awful volvo are about curation and how steam is drowning in shovelware, but when you ask them to show you their main store page - it's usually full of good recommendations

and that's what i'm talking about - people usually just hear about how awful steam is somewhere and just roll with that opinion ... don't even bother checking themselves ... i mean - "if devs themselves and journalists are saying it's awful then it must be awful" kind of thing, you know

and then there's also another thing - the vast majority of people playing on PC aren't really super-hardcore like we are here ... they usually buy a few games per year and usually also own at least one console ... so they aren't really all that invested in any of the community features volvo offers, and they probably also don't really care where they play their games (probably most of them on consoles and only play on PC when it's a game that's only on PC)
 

prudis

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The Kingdom of Beer and Porn
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Seems like i missed another one from Thursday

Set on a distant uncharted & hostile planet, where descendants of a colony fleet that struck disaster have clung on to survive until the eventual rescue. However, decades later, without contact from the fleet, the growing colonies have begun skirmishes over limited resources.

A full blown war of conquest looms on the horizon that could risk humanity's fragile existence on this harsh new world.

As the chaos approaches, you take the role as the leader of a rag-tag bunch of scavengers / mercenaries. Your goal is to scavenge, trade, sabotage, hunt, fight and help conquer your way to fame and glory.

Along the journey, you will meet allies that will join in the struggle to survive the wasteland, and perhaps together, you can unravel the mystery on the origins of the colony and change the fate of all those who call this barren world home.

Key Features:
  • An intelligent economic simulation creates opportunities for emergent gameplay, where the world reacts to player actions or inaction. A world where your choices matters as the factions try to survive and wage wars of conquest.
  • A competitive design where other groups of free scavengers roam the world seeking the same opportunities to exploit as the player. Want those precious advanced alloys from the recent fallen space debris? Or that lucrative trade request? So do others, and they will not appreciate your rag-tag gang interfering.
  • Factions will raise militia armies to defend or raid and conquer their enemies. Each recruit needs to be equipped and supplied, including basics such as munitions, without which, their guns will fall silent in battle.
  • Mercenary contracts that carry consequences. Be it clearing raiders for a faction to help their economy grow, or sabotage their enemy's outposts to cripple their war capability.
  • Equip your squad with many different weapons, each providing a unique balance and tactical options. Train their combat skills as they gain levels, and specialize them further with a selection of many perks.
  • Hunt the xenobeasts on this hostile world and use their skin, carapace, and organs in crafting useful items and armor.
  • An epic sci-fi story awaits, along with side-quests and random encounters.
 
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Li Kao

It’s a strange world. Let’s keep it that way.
Jan 28, 2019
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Good God, I wanted to gift The Division from the Humble monthly but this is a geo-localisation nightmare. As I understand it, being in France I can't gift it to an American account ? A free game in 2019. Rolling my eyes so bad.
 
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lashman

lashman

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Rise to Ruins :: So Long (Patreon), and Thanks For All The Fish!

So Long (Patreon), and Thanks For All The Fish!
2 Feb @ 6:56am - Rayvolution


Greetings guys, after some very, very careful consideration. I've decided to shut down the Patreon. The reason being Rise to Ruins easily sustains my livelihood and a nice rainy day account that can keep SixtyGig Games running through the hard times now, so I don't feel right taking additional money from you guys! Your support has and always will be appreciated and I thank you all for your pledges, reviews and of course, buying the game.

Rise to Ruins has been doing increasingly well over the last 6 months or so, and to return the thanks you gave me by pledging, I would like to return to you 2 times the amount you pledged to me since the Patreon began. Meaning, if you've pledged $10, I'll return $20!

Anyone who wants to take me up on this offer, simply send me a message on Patreon with your PayPal information (Or post a comment in the Patreon announcement linked below) and I'll handle the rest! If you don't have a PayPal. I can also offer Steam gift card codes.

Please, don't look at this as a negative, I greatly appreciate everything you guys have and will do! This is actually a great thing; as Rise to Ruins has become so successful a rainy day fund this Patreon set out to build is no longer necessary. :)

Thank you guys for everything! I look forward to your messages.

The original post can be found here:
So long, and thanks for all the fish! | Raymond Doerr of SixtyGig Games on Patreon
 

Big_Al

Miserable old git
Jan 22, 2019
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I fucking hate Windows fucking Store with a fucking passion. Can't download anything from the Windows Store and the only reason I care is I want to get Gamepass for like a month to play Crackdown 3 since I'm such a massive Crackdown fan. Tried all the ways to remedy it but no dice, I could try to reinstall from scratch but fuck that, what a nuiscance. I mean Epic may be cunts with their shenanigans but at least you can download the fucking games from their store. (sorry for the rant!)
 

derExperte

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Dec 9, 2018
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I fucking hate Windows fucking Store with a fucking passion. Can't download anything from the Windows Store and the only reason I care is I want to get Gamepass for like a month to play Crackdown 3 since I'm such a massive Crackdown fan. Tried all the ways to remedy it but no dice, I could try to reinstall from scratch but fuck that, what a nuiscance. I mean Epic may be cunts with their shenanigans but at least you can download the fucking games from their store. (sorry for the rant!)
I assume you are on the very latest W10 version? And how are you updating apps? Doesn't that work either?

Here are some more hardcore suggestions, including making a new user account: How To Reinstall Store And Other Apps In Windows 10

Sometimes someone disabeling some service or using one of those privacy tools to turn off Windows features can lead to weird issues much, much later. Difficult to track down the underlying cause.

Thankfully I haven't had any issues with the store not working and don't mind it too much for apps but of course it was never made for big games and I'd rebuy stuff like FH4 on Steam in an instant.
 
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Schnitzelfee

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AFAIK you miss out on some background story stuff and a major side quest or so...
but, you can customize the "official" characters the same way like a 100% custom one except for looks and their background story, you can still use whatever class and skills... so there is no real reason to not use a official one imo... at least for the first play through
 
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lashman

lashman

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4A Games developer: If Metro Exodus does not sell on the PC, the next Metro will not come out for it | DSOGaming | The Dark Side Of Gaming

Last month, Deep Silver announced that Metro Exodus will be a timed-exclusive title on Epic’s digital store for the PC. Obviously, this frustrated a number of PC gamers – with some review bombing both Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light on Steam – and on Gameru’s forum, a 4A Games developer has expressed his feelings toward this whole situation.

This 4A Games developer with the nickname “scynet” admitted that the decision to release the game on Epic’s store was sudden and that it could cause some inconvenience to players. Scynet also claimed that those that decide to pirate the game would have done so, regardless of this timed-exclusive deal.

However, the developer went one step further and stated that if all PC gamers boycott Metro Exodus then the next Metro game (if there is one mind you) will not come out on the PC. Now I’m pretty sure that the developer was exaggerating here but it begs the question; how many PC sales can guarantee the continuation of the Metro franchise on the PC?

Of course, this is the opinion of only one developer and not of the entire studio or the publisher, however it shows how nervous some of 4A Games’ developers actually are.

Scynet also stated that 4A Games is currently putting the final touches to the PC version of Metro Exodus, which is currently scheduled for a February 15th release!
 

Le Pertti

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Oct 10, 2018
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lepertti.com
Monooboe
AFAIK you miss out on some background story stuff and a major side quest or so...
but, you can customize the "official" characters the same way like a 100% custom one except for looks and there background story, you can still use whatever class and skills... so there is no real reason to not use a official one imo
Mm I assumed as much, so went with an origin char. Went with the Red Prince.:D I'm so happy I could cry, I've waited for this game since I kickstarted it!
 
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lashman

lashman

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I guess it also confirms that devs got nothing out of epic moneybags to make it exclusive (which Galyonkin said would cover at least difference between sales on epic & steam).
so we basically went from "saving poor devs" to "more money for the publishers"

even better
 
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Big_Al

Miserable old git
Jan 22, 2019
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I assume you are on the very latest W10 version? And how are you updating apps? Doesn't that work either?

Here are some more hardcore suggestions, including making a new user account: How To Reinstall Store And Other Apps In Windows 10

Sometimes someone disabeling some service or using one of those privacy tools to turn off Windows features can lead to weird issues much, much later. Difficult to track down the underlying cause.

Thankfully I haven't had any issues with the store not working and don't mind it too much for apps but of course it was never made for big games and I'd rebuy stuff like FH4 on Steam in an instant.
Thanks for the link. Yeah I tried all those before and none of them worked unfortunately, well apart from the new account I might try that later. I can get into the store no problem, it just won't download unfortunately. I mean I'm not THAT concerned and if I can be bothered I'll maybe do a complete reinstall but for now I'm just 'meh' and playing other things.
 
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morningbus

taskmaster
Dec 8, 2018
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I can't tell if the 4A developers are at the A - ANGER stage of the DABDA grief cycle or the B - BARGAINING stage.
Post automatically merged:

thesteamthread.com linking to here now?

How devious, someone using their monopoly on thesteamthread.com to prey on my insurmountable lazyness. Guess I'm trapped here now. Forever.
Hey, people can still use era.steamthread.com. They'll be fine, it's just another launcher.
 
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Big_Al

Miserable old git
Jan 22, 2019
139
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I mean I understand the passion and anger of PC folk at Epics nonsense but from my perspective I'm not angry or sad or anything. They're releasing something I want on a platform I use in 2020 and that's when I'll get it, nothing more and nothing less. I'll still be using the Epic Store for Fortnite Save The World, I'll still be using Origin, GOG, Uplay and even the Bethesda Launcher. But to act like customers are crazy for voicing and showing their disapproval is something I don't understand. I don't blame folks for getting annoyed, they're getting told by other fuckwit posters that they're 'entitled' and they're also getting told by articles on gaming websites how they're entitled, just for showing their disapproval at a business move ? Fuck outta here. Don't be voicing your disapproval via reviews now cause that would be bad and make the poor publisher upset now. Again, fuck outta here. All whilst they're releasing new trailers on stores that they aren't releasing on for a year after just removing purchasing options (with the other stores logo in the trailer), using those forums on those stores for bug fixes since that's one of the few ways customers can interact with them, people making profit from skimming data from a particular store whilst working for a competitor etc. Makes me chuckle at the bullshit on display.
 

Digoman

Lurking in the Shadows
Dec 21, 2018
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The things irks me (even considering it's just one dude) is that it sounds way to similar to something like:

"Be happy with what we are offering and if you don't buy it we will be leaving the PC market.". And that is something we have heard sooooo many times over the years.

In other news; Holy crap people weren't kidding about the mouse controls on Anthem. I didn't even try the demo itself because of how bad it was in the hub area, and I'm one of those guys that could play the original Dead Space.... pheeeew.

EDIT (you are not auto-merging my posts forum!):

Forgot to talk about the great post from lashman, and specifically this part:
Add to that the fact that volvo doesn't really communicate with journalists at all (unless they're launching a game once in a decade or something ... and even then it's barely a press release really. Hell, even when shit goes down and they try to contact volvo for comments - they usually don't get back to anyone) and you have what we can see right now. They don't know anything about steam because volvo doesn't send out press releases about new features or changes.
I was just thinking yesterday how the usual "complete silence" and no PR from Valve isn't really helping the situation right now, so thank you for articulating way better than I could. I think they really should change the strategy in this area, but it is probably too late now.
 
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Guilty of Being

META MAN
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I love the dithering so much in many of the PC-98 games. It's kind of a shame that although many games with pixel art style are still being made today, almost none of them tried to emulate how dithering look. Although I do understand the reasoning behind it. I suppose I feel a certain fondness for it the way other people love CRT scanlines (I dislike scanlines).

PC-98 emulation scene is still alive, although definitely not as prominent as others. The np2kai RetroArch core is still being developed and the standalone NP21/W emulator is still thriving. If finding/importing a working unit from Japan proves difficult, emulating it through RetroArch is still the next best thing.
I’ve been dying for years to re-play and finally beat Dark Earth. I believe I’ve mentioned this game before. Also, it’s been begged for by the GoGies for a while now.
 
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lashman

lashman

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EDIT (you are not auto-merging my posts forum!):
you know you can remove the "post was merged" message afterwards, right? :p it's just a tag in the post - you can edit it out :p haha

I was just thinking yesterday how the usual "complete silence" and no PR from Valve isn't really helping the situation right now, so thank you for articulating way better than I could. I think they really should change the strategy in this area, but it is probably too late now.
yeah ... volvo suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck IMMENSELY when it comes to communication ... with pretty much anyone: the media, the consumers, and even the goddamn devs!

they really should fix that ASAP because especially now it's REALLY hurting them
 
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Alexandros

Every game should be turn based
Nov 4, 2018
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If people boycott Exodus and it bombs on PC, what will happen is that the next Metro game will be released on Steam unless Epic pays an even bigger moneyhat. Suggesting that a company like THQ would skip the platform entirely in this day and age is nothing short of laughable, and the attempt to suggest so is pathetic.
Post automatically merged:

I was just thinking yesterday how the usual "complete silence" and no PR from Valve isn't really helping the situation right now, so thank you for articulating way better than I could. I think they really should change the strategy in this area, but it is probably too late now.
I think they're still thinking how to best tackle this situation and that's why there's no news. I doubt they want to 'punish' publishers and burn bridges, so it's a delicate situation.
 
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lashman

lashman

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I think they're still thinking how to best tackle this situation and that's why there's no news. I doubt they want to 'punish' publishers and burn bridges, so it's a delicate situation.
i hope not ... and they DEFINITELY shouldn't ... that would be like the worst thing they could do right now
 
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Digoman

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I think they're still thinking how to best tackle this situation and that's why there's no news. I doubt they want to 'punish' publishers and burn bridges, so it's a delicate situation.
i hope not ... and they DEFINITELY shouldn't ... that would be like the worst thing they could do right now
It certainly is delicate, but given that journalists are simply not doing any research whatsoever, I think they will have to change tactics. Even the little message they put up on the Metro Exodus page showed how Epic is counting on them being silent, with Galyonkin even replying on twitter "Do you find a store owner attaching a note like this to a product made by people they disagree with a bit weird? ".

Now, I don't know how it would be the best way to react, is just that I really don't think the standard silence and "the market will take care of it" is the best response to all that Fortnite money. Doing nothing may lead to the "death by a thousand cuts" scenario.
 
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