Do you think this is a good idea for Steam?

Rental services.
Example: A game costs $15.

You can pay $5 to rent it for 5 hours. Then, if you like the game, you can spend another $10 dollars (the difference) to buy it and own it.

Your thoughts?

Probably wouldn't be as profitable as the current model.

I mean, especially in PC gaming, you know what you're buying when you decide to get a game. You don't need to rent a game or play a demo to know if you want it or not.

Nope. I am not paying $15 for a cheap that I can buy for less than that during the Steam sales.

hell no

Nah, it would change the whole steam market. Would be seeing less sales and more rental sales...

What is this, Rent-A-Center? Hell no.

please no..i can't even see publishers supporting the idea

Not at all. How could we live without the Godly Steam sales?

why would i pay 1/3 of a price for a game to play for 5 hours on a distribution platform that does huge 75% sales every bloody month?

The TC probably thinks PlayStation Now rental prices are reasonable and is using that as a basis for this idea.

Well kids, back in the day there were these things called demos and they were free

Sigh. I pity cows.

lmao no, thats fucking stupid.

I wouldn't think you'd need such a service with Steams great prices and all.

And now they are 30 dollars. I blame consoles.

Nope. Free weekend games are better.

This thread was a resounding success. Congrats @drekula2!

Steam essentially employs that model, but they don't call it "renting." They provide F2P trials and offer the game on sale during a set period. Objectively, that's what you're describing - only difference is the numbers.

ahhh.... the internets

serious tho. rentals will become the new standard for gaming. it's already happened with movies, tv and music. its only a matter of time.

How about publishers just put out demos instead so you get to play the game for an half an hour to decide if you like it or it will play properly on your system.

Well whatever you believe will happen, it doesn't change the fact what you are proposing certainly isn't a good idea since it's objectively worse than what we have now.

Also, you rent music? You mean streaming?

No. If a game is $15, you will be able to buy it for $5 or less during a sale.

Oh god dat sig

This ^

demos, that's why we have demos

I'd rather simply have the ability to rent a game for $1-$2 a day.

Could just be select games too, or just any dev that'd want to put their games up to rent.

I bought Assassin's Creed Unity.

In fact, I pre ordered it on the US release date when the GS review was released (I live in EU, EU release dat was Thursday). I got exactly what I payed for.

I feel the problem with steam isn't valve but rather third party developers within that framework, who aren't Valve, trying to exploit the utter **** out of you. For that reason: No.

AC Unity basically exceeded my expectations. I mostly only got the game because of the beautiful visual fidelity... I was happy with the purchase, still am. I have never bought a game without informing myself first. I knew what I was getting when I bought AC Unity, I read the reviews. No one should buy games without knowing EXACTLY what it is first.

What are these "demos" you speak of?

Why would I want to rent a game on steam for $5 when I can get 3 FULL GAMES for $5?

Are you joking?

If i wanted to "rent" a game on PC i could do it for free.Besides for $5 i can already a triple A game during the sales.

No cuz um most games on PC are considered cheap especially when a steam sale comes.......