Re: One Launcher to Rule Them All

On Tue, 24 Jun 2025 17:20:37 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
 

>
So, Microsoft is trying something new.

 Speaking of game launchers
(and not wanting to start a new thread for these news tidbits)
  For those of you on Steam Deck (I think we have a few people here who
have the device), the "Heroic Game Launcher" gives you access to your
GOG, Epic and Amazon libraries on the device. How well it works I've
no idea; is it just a launcher or does it apply necessary shims to
install and play the games? It's not only for SteamDeck, so if you
want to try it on PC that works too. So Microsoft's got some
competition. Which do you trust less; some weird open source program
you can download off the Internet, or Microsoft's app? ;-)
https://heroicgameslauncher.com/
   Meanwhile, Epic got smacked hard for how shitty they made their own
launcher. Well, not so much the launching games part of it, but the
ways they used dark patterns to get people to make unintended
purchases (and for locking accounts of people who disputed the
charges).  They're paying a $245 million USD fine to reimburse
customers (you've got until early July to submit a claim if you think
you're one of the victims they've fleeced!). Of course, most of these
crimes go unreported, so I'm sure the amount Epic is paying out is far
less than how much they took in. Something's got to pay for all those
freebies we get!
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/06/ftc-sends-126-million-refunds-fortnite-players-who-were-charged-unwanted-items-reopens-claims
  Launchers, launchers everywhere... nor any games I wanna launch. ;-)