Bethesda’s RAGE 2, developed collaboratively by id Software and Avalanche Studios, could be the publisher’s next game to skip Steam. All signs point to the game releasing for PC via the Bethesda Launcher, which is infamous for being highly problematic, most recently with the Fallout 76 beta. The PC version of the latter would face issues with users’ data being deleted, though Bethesda has since fixed the same.
As for RAGE 2, retail sites like Green Man Gaming and Fanatical outright list its platform as “Bethesda”. Fanatical even noted in its listing for the game, “Please note that the key provided is Bethesda.net key and not a Steam Key.” You can also preorder the game through Bethesda’s official store. Once again, “Steam DRM” is conspicuously absent.
Obviously the lack of a Steam listing is the most telling sign, though Bethesda has yet to comment on the game being exclusive to its launcher. While RAGE 2 isn’t a multiplayer game and looks suitably more polished than Fallout 76 was prior to launch, it remains to be seen how consumers will react to not getting it on Steam. Stay tuned for more details.