While Microsoft is now publishing more PC games than it has in years, very few of them actually make their way to Steam, which remains the premier distribution platform for PC games, and almost synonymous with PC gaming (for good or for bad…) at this point. Microsoft, of course, is trying to push its own Windows Store platform, so it makes sense- but while they wait for sales there to actually begin mattering to any appreciable degree, it seems like they are fine with some of their smaller games coming over to Steam in the meanwhile.
Not that they will be bringing said games over themselves- according to an early report published on Worth Playing, it sounds like THQ Nordic has signed a deal to bring over five of Microsoft’s games over to Steam for them. These games are ReCore: Definitive Edition, Super Lucky’s Tale, Disneyland Adventures, Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure, and Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection.
Microsoft, of course, has seen some of its first party content release on Steam in the past, such as Halo Wars: Definitive Edition and Quantum Break, so in that sense, this isn’t much of a change from them. Now, if Forza Horizon 4 were to launch on Steam too, for example, then it could be seen as them throwing in the towel on the Windows Store initiative…