If you’re a fan of digital distribution and expecting Battlefield 3 to be available via Steam when it releases this October, don’t expect it as it will not come at all.
According to Baird of a financial research firm, “The upcoming EA title Battlefield 3 will be sold as a download through GameStop, but not through Steam,”. This claim has been confirmed directly by the head executive of Gamestop who wished to be unnamed.
Given Steam’s dominance — and insistence on users downloading a Steam client application — publishers are likely to be receptive to a competitive alternative.”
If EA continues not to bring their games to Steam, it will be a huge blow to the Valve Network. First it was Crysis 2 that got pulled from Steam and now Battlefield 3 will never release on Steam. That is really sad, knowing how many Steam users are eagerly anticipating for this game.