Launcher Memes

Epic Games out here playing 4D chess with their launcher. They'll throw millions at free AAA games to get you hooked on their platform, but ask them to implement a shopping cart or cloud saves? Nah, that's too expensive apparently. It's the classic startup playbook: burn investor cash on user acquisition while the actual product experience stays in beta for years. Why fix the UX when you can just buy user loyalty with free copies of GTA V? Their launcher still feels like an Electron app someone built during a weekend hackathon, but hey, at least the free games library is chef's kiss. Product managers everywhere are taking notes: features that cost dev time and improve user experience? Hard pass. Throwing money at marketing stunts that bleed cash? Real stuff right there.

When your competitor's launcher is so broken it becomes your best marketing strategy! EA's launcher had one job - recognize purchased games - and somehow failed spectacularly at launch day. Meanwhile, Steam's platform just works™ and Gabe Newell (Steam's founder) collects his 30% cut from all those sweet, sweet refund-and-rebuy transactions. The irony is delicious - EA tried to avoid Steam's commission by pushing their own launcher, only to inadvertently send customers running back to Steam with credit cards in hand. Task failed successfully!