Steam v Microsoft store - any real difference?
- Thread starter Whiffle
- Start date
I use the Microsoft Store when I'm looking for play anywhere games (e.g. subnautica 2) so I can switch between devices as I'm kicked out the lounge... MS allow you to register game keys, on your account, from other regions using a VPN which steam is not so great at... so there as UTmaniac said it could be even cheaper at the key sellers in the argentian region etc. Steam is available outside of windows which I dont know if MS Store is or the xbox app.
I can get a decent price on Loaded for the MS version of Forza Horizon 6 (£42). It is £60 directly on steam - should I go for the cheaper MS version of is there any real advantage for of the Steam version?
I have never even heard of Fanatical - I take it that you have had good experiences with them?
I have never even heard of Fanatical - I take it that you have had good experiences with them?
I bought the MS store version of FH6 to discover it only supports Xbox pad and not my dualsense, so wish I had waited for steam version, now I have to use DS4windows app to translate DS to Xbox, Steam games typically just work.
Also its download was so slow compared to steam rarely going over 600Mb, Typically I can max my 2Gb line on Steam
Also its download was so slow compared to steam rarely going over 600Mb, Typically I can max my 2Gb line on Steam
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It really comes down to your preference for platform. I prefer Steam personally ( games get quicker updates - even MS games, more features etc ). Unfortunately there aren't any 3rd party keys for the Steam FH6 version ... could be weeks or months until they are available, so if cost is a major factor then your only option at the moment is buying a discounted Xbox storefront key.
Ah - I see. So there are a few differences, then?
To be honest, whilst I have most of my games on Steam, there are a few that I had to buy outside of it - usually be cause that is the only place that I can buy them (GTA, Cyberpunk etc).
I have Forza 5 and I wasn't even aware that you could mod that game - ultimately, am I missing much from buying the cheaper version?
That blows - maybe when the PS version gets released they'll update the PC / Xbox version. Worth sending PGG an in-game message requesting this feature.
People who have the leaked version report it works fine on that. So the restriction is for some reason put in place seemingly on purpose. So lame
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Thanks for this - this is pretty significant to be honest. That is pretty crumby that the Steam version could get more features, even though Forza is indirectly made by MS.
I should clarify that I meant Steam itself has more features ... not necessarily Forza on that platform. But as @sandys has highlighted there are subtle differences between the two versions ie. controller support, and in my experience that's one of the downsides of the Xbox platform - it has annoying quirks like that. Similar scenario with the Indiana Jones game that came out 18 months ago - performed better on Steam and got quicker updates despite being an MS / Xbox game. The only reason I personally would buy a specific title on Xbox is if I wanted to play that game on both console ( Series S/X ) and PC.
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Sorry - I misunderstood. Thanks for this - much appreciated.
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I've uses Loaded far more often than Fanatical, but no problems with Steam keys from either.
Great, thanks for the tip - I shall definitely keep an eye on both, from now on.
General things off the top of my head
- Patches are normally slower to roll out on MS (You'd hope this wouldn't apply to MS games)
- Modding can be more of a pain
- Downloads are bigger (I assume steam compresses the files more, or uses better compression)
- You cannot throttle download speed on MS/Xbox by itself, they've broken the feature
Benefits of MS store - if it's a Play Anywhere title, you can buy it once and play it on both PC and Xbox. You can even buy the Xbox version if it's cheaper.
Is There Any Deal is a good place to look for the generally thought of "very safe" shops - so official retaillers, not marketplaces, not grey key sellers. They have a handy extension too which is nice when looking at any steam page.
- Patches are normally slower to roll out on MS (You'd hope this wouldn't apply to MS games)
- Modding can be more of a pain
- Downloads are bigger (I assume steam compresses the files more, or uses better compression)
- You cannot throttle download speed on MS/Xbox by itself, they've broken the feature
Benefits of MS store - if it's a Play Anywhere title, you can buy it once and play it on both PC and Xbox. You can even buy the Xbox version if it's cheaper.
Is There Any Deal is a good place to look for the generally thought of "very safe" shops - so official retaillers, not marketplaces, not grey key sellers. They have a handy extension too which is nice when looking at any steam page.
My issue is that the MS Store is just very clunky and unreliable. I have to click things on the interface multiple times, and it takes an age to load. Sometimes when I try to look at Game Pass it just loads an error.
Add onto that it not only lacks Steam workshop or equivalent, but actually prevent various mods and things from working, and also in some cases (looking at you, Outer Worlds 2) makes it impossible to extract the savegames and the whole thing becomes quite frustrating to use.
IMO with Gamepass I can get over those things (I occasionally buy Gamepass if I can get it for £2-3 per month), but there's no way I'd hand over cash to buy a game on the MS Store. Ubisoft I will consider buying direct if it's a deal far better than Steam, but MS is just too rubbish from my personal experience.
Add onto that it not only lacks Steam workshop or equivalent, but actually prevent various mods and things from working, and also in some cases (looking at you, Outer Worlds 2) makes it impossible to extract the savegames and the whole thing becomes quite frustrating to use.
IMO with Gamepass I can get over those things (I occasionally buy Gamepass if I can get it for £2-3 per month), but there's no way I'd hand over cash to buy a game on the MS Store. Ubisoft I will consider buying direct if it's a deal far better than Steam, but MS is just too rubbish from my personal experience.
This prompted me to check my windows store and it's not that clear to me what I own when I go to library.
It shows Forza 5 Premium VIP that I have no recollection of buying but I'll check transactions. It also shows a load of AC games I am sure I only played on GP (currently active sub). I suspect once my GP expires today, they may not show as available to download any more.
It shows Forza 5 Premium VIP that I have no recollection of buying but I'll check transactions. It also shows a load of AC games I am sure I only played on GP (currently active sub). I suspect once my GP expires today, they may not show as available to download any more.
