Selling downloadable software on Amazon

I'm wondering why no one seems to ever mention Amazon as a site for selling games and other software despite the fact that it has a lot more customers than Steam. Amazon does have some downloadable software, so it is a potential market. Anyone know how viable it is compared to Steam?

 

Amazon may have 'more customers' than Steam, but most of those customers aren't there to buy games.

Most PC gamers stick to the dedicated PC store experience, as its easier to manage your games/downloads etc, and on top of that we have the trading/community/workshop stuff.

Sure you'll get a few sales, but it will always be in the minority compared to what you'll be selling on Steam.
There is the Amazon app store too for Android apps, but once again, this pales in comparison to the downloads you'll get on Google Play, unless of course you get featured.

 

So is there a site that's roughly comparable to Steam but without the $100 cost ? Itch.io is free, but most of the games there are also free and so most players there seem to be expecting a free download.

 

The Humble Store. To my knowledge they just charge a 25% fee.

https://www.humblebundle.com/developer

Just be aware that by passing on the Steam store you're likewise passing on millions of gamers. Getting the same number of eyes on your game with another store may very well be more expensive than just that $100.

 

Aren't most of the buyers on the Humble Store interested in getting large packs of games for a tiny price?

 

The Humble Store is a traditional store front. Just because the company has bundles of games doesn't mean their audience is there solely for the bundles any more than Itch.io having tons of free games means their audience just wants free games. You're assuming things you shouldn't be when you don't have any actual info on it.

If we took your logic and applied it to Steam we would be making the assumption that the only reason people have Steam accounts is to take advantage of the colossal sales available every major holiday but anyone who has any degree of knowledge about the platform could tell you that's completely inaccurate.

If you don't care about having a single consolidated audience then your best bet is to upload the game to as many storefronts as possible. If you care about having one consolidated storefront then your best bet is to only upload to Steam as every other store out there is only a fraction of their size.

 

Honestly if you are not wanting to pay the $100, but at the same time worrying about how much money you will make:

Pick one or the other.

There is no point trying to launch ignoring the biggest storefront on the planet for games, if you want to make money. So either save money and dont launch there, or try and make money and launch there.

If you dont think you will make back that $100, then launching on another store is going to be pointless as you will make even less on there. Also really you should be launching on every storefront you can, regardless of fees - if you want to make any money that is.

If for free, just go itch.io.

 

Nope. The Humble Store is just a purchasing storefront like plenty of others(*), and separated and distinct from the Bundles. They're selling stuff from most of the major game portals, like other retail game sites.

(*except for the intrinsic charity donation)

 

What specifically are you talking about here, btw? Amazon counts as a 'site for selling games' in a couple of different ways.

Firstly, they sell 'classically' distributed video games on standard retail channels, in other words, for your product to wind up on their virtual shelves, they'd be approaching you, or rather your distributor. And they'll probably want a boxed product. If you look, they dont seem to sell indie games.

Secondly, you can set yourself up with your own storefront and sell your own products. That looks like that starts at £25 a month, and Im not even sure if it covers electronic delivery.

Thirdly, they have their own gated apps store for (Kindle-ified?) android apps.