Direct2Drive
 | |
Type of site | Desktop video gaming |
|---|---|
| Owner | Gamefly |
| URL | direct2drive.com |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | To purchase |
Direct2Drive (commonly D2D) is an online game store offering PC videogames via direct download. On May 25, 2011, Gamefly acquired Direct2Drive from IGN Entertainment Group [1].
Competition with Steam
It is a major competitor to Valve's Steam digital storefront and has been described as "the other major purveyor of digital distribution".[2] A non-scientific survey run by gaming news site Kotaku in 2010 indicated that of around 30,000 respondents, 8% had purchased a game from Direct2Drive.[3] While Steam customers can browse the storefront via the downloadable client or the website, the D2D store is only available on the website. D2D does not offer a full fledged client, however, the service does have a free download manager. Additionally, many of the services features, including downloading, are available from former sister site Gamespy's software Comrade.
Business
Launched in 2004, IGN has claimed "exponential growth in sales" since that time. It offers over 3,000 titles through relationships with more than 300 game publishers.[4][5] Direct2Drive sponsors a $10,000 award at the Independent Games Festival called the D2D Vision Award, which "celebrates independent developers exemplifying innovation in design coupled with excellence in game-play".[6] In 2009, the site made headlines by refusing to sell Activision's Modern Warfare 2 due to that game's integration with Valve's Steamworks service. Users buying Modern Warfare 2 from a reseller such as Direct2Drive would be forced to also download and install the Steam client.[7]
References
- ^ GAMEFLY, INC. ACQUIRES DIRECT2DRIVE FROM IGN ENTERTAINMENT
- ^ PC Sales Charts (Now With Added Direct2Drive) - Kotaku
- ^ Kotaku Census 2010
- ^ GAMEFLY, INC. ACQUIRES DIRECT2DRIVE FROM IGN ENTERTAINMENT
- ^ Interview: Direct2Drive's Berger On The Evolving Digital Distro Space - Gamasutra
- ^ GDC: IGF, Direct2Drive Announce $10,000 D2D Vision Award Finalists - Gamasutra
- ^ Direct2Drive Tussles With Valve By Declining To Sell Steamworks-Powered MW2 - Gamasutra
External links
Template:Digital distribution platforms
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