"Then you pointed out that Steamowns75-80% of the PC market-share (2) (a monopoly by your admission, please review the meaning of monopoly if in doubt). So, MS owning Steam would equate to not have freedom of options but if you are saying Steam already owns 75-80% of market, how is Steam prompting more options?"

-I know what a monopoly is, I'm saying that Steam does NOT act like Microsoft does with options even with that market share right now. Steam's features and options currently provide more than what Microsoft does and always has, and if Microsoft hypothetically owned Steam, then again, they would push what they have historically tried in the past to maximize profit. PC gamers all have the option to go elsewhere away from Steam anytime, but the fact is the Valve was created because they didn't like the restrictions Microsoft had.

"Being charged for multiplayer, no more 2 hours refunds and blasted with adds for Xbox games because MS hypothetically owns Steam indicates that you believe that without the existence of Steam, these options would not exist"

-Again, I'm saying that I think those would likely change under Microsoft's charge, There's no indication of Steam exclusively promotes those options into existence, but that Microsoft would definitely axe options Steam has to be similar to what they already do on Xbox and what they have tied to do already on PC in the past.

It's possible multiple people have stated you're hateful because of all the Vitriol you spew in your comments, But I digress, I'm happy you have your preference locked down. If I buy a game on console, It's going to be physical because it's always cheaper than what you can get on PSN or the Microsoft store. I've found though that the resell value of a disk game isn't worth much 6 months after release so I just prefer to have a massive ass library of content to choose from.

"PC freedom derives from the ability to make software/hardware for the platform. If someone claims that these options will end, then they need to demonstrate or explain how it will end."

That right there is the communication breakdown, and explains why both my and Davillian's points where not acknowledged.1. Your definition of Freedom is precisely aimed at the hardware/software while Davillian and I are pointing out freedom of options and what has historically been tied by Microsoft in the PC space. It cannot be denied that there are more options and freedom of use in the PC space than the console space, that's just a fact. Microsoft's past attempted actions on PC and what they have done with Xbox is more restrictive than What PC is currently, and that is the concern we have been talking about. 2.The beginning of the end of open market on PC would be if Valve was hypothetically acquired, Microsoft would make Steam more restrictive like their Xbox counterpart.Since Steam owns 75-80% of the PC market share, Microsoft would just shackle Steam users down, because they can, and historically have already tried Console restrictions on PC already. Essentially "alright guys we own Steam and you have hundreds of games on it so we assume you won't want to leave. 3. Oh by the way, you're all paying for multiplayer now, no more 2 hour refunds, and every time you open Steam your going to get blasted with adds for xbox games on your dashboard." That's what we where talking about.

Hate all you want, it's all a matter of preference, because I don't ever sell my games anyway, but I also don't have to pay money to play with my friends online either.

@Pedro: I failed to see why you need to know the answer and anyone who plays on PC should already know what MS is capable of.

But I'll do my best to give you an answer.

• In the past, MS was secretly trying to see if they could get away by getting PC players to pay online back when they struck gold on gold with console gamers paying for XBL. When PC gamers heard about this, MS got a lot of backlash for it and MS double-down making PC gamers pay online. This is one of the examples should they buy out Steam as MS isn't known to be trusted.
• MS can't even fix or improve their own store app for that matter and if they had the money or they thought they have enough to buy Valve, then use that money to improve the MS store app.

If any of those aren't the answers you are looking for, well, I did my best🤷‍♂️

I do want to bring this up but this isn't the first time this rumor has popped up, A few years ago, this same rumor said MS was gonna buy Valve and it didn't happen, and Gabe wasn't even aware such a thing was going on since he said MS never approach the idea of buying Valve/Steam. This whole thing is just silly and everyone seems to have forgotten this isn't the first time this crap of a rumor already happened.

Not avoiding anything Pedro, I already stated multiple times and points as to what I thought, Just like DaVillian stated as well. Like I already said, agree to disagree, or If you don't accept that, We can just say you're right so we can all move on with our day.

I guess you're right Pedro. Valve has never done anymore on the Steam Platform for users than the competition has, and If somehow Microsoft did acquire Valve they Wouldn't change a thing about Steam to increase profits from the investment. Everything would stay exactly the same as it currently is. I stand corrected.

It does because Subs would be involved, but still, agree to disagree. As far a Steam pioneering I can give you a few, Refunds, User reviews, big picture Mode, support for all input devices, and Wishlist notifications are a few they have done first that either are desired to be replicated, or they did first.

Because like I said, Microsoft doesn't have a history with giving gamers choice. In the past they tried to force Xbox Live on PC gamers to pay for multiplayer and inflate sub numbers. It was met with massive blast back and they had to backpedal. If they did actually own the largest platform on PC, they would most certainly try to push some Gamepass crap to inflate subs, especially since the subs have gone stagnant and not met the goals they wanted. This is also the same company that forced paid DLC on console gamers that where free on PC, because they didn't want to set a standard of free content on console gamers. As far as how Steam pioneering Freedom on PC, Steam created the standard on PC. They literally blazed the trail everyone wants to replicate today.

@pcgamerlaszlo: They may take our liives, but they'll never take our freedom 🙄

What a load of bs, go out and buy a disk from Steam and then lend it to a friend, or resell it, trade it for another game etc, now that's freedom. You're stuck with some text that you click on to play your gamea and nothing else, but, but freedom 🤣