Ubisoft shares Dark Messiah of M&M with Steam
by Christopher Grant 
{ Aug 31st 2006 at 6:25PM }
Valve has been busy piling up games with hearts of gold in their increasingly popular, and increasingly cramped, Steam bordello. With the recent additions of Introversion's DEFCON and seventeen members of the burgeoning PopCap clan, Steam is really (steaming up/under pressure/on fire). Sure, a little service called Xbox Live ain't doing so poorly, but they're not delivering highly anticipated AAA retail titles yet, so there.
Today, Valve announced a deal with Ubisoft to distribute their Source-based, first-person RPG, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic over Steam. More importantly, the release will be simultaneous with the retail release this October. Unlike Half-Life 2, which is distributed digitally over Steam and in stores by EA, Valve does not own this property, they're just the messengers. Ubisoft is acknowledging the demand for digitally distributed AAA content and using the largest platform they can find to promote it. We're still waiting on governement-distributed protein pills and personal submarines, but the third pillar of our future vision is now realized.
Check out a video of Dark Messiah, and today's press release, after the break.
Ubisoft's Highly Anticipated Action Role Playing Game Heading to Online Platform
Leipzig, Germany - August 31, 2006 - Today Valve®, creators of the Steam broadband gaming platform, announced that it has partnered with Ubisoft to bring the highly anticipated action role playing title Dark Messiah of Might & Magic to the Steam online distribution service when the product is launched worldwide in October 2006.
"I am a long-time fan of the Might & Magic franchise," said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. "Valve is delighted to have Dark Messiah of Might & Magic on Steam's growing list of new releases for the holiday season. But, more importantly, I just can't wait to play it."
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic is an action-RPG created by Arkane Studios and powered by an enhanced version of the Source Engine, the award-winning game technology created by Valve for Half-Life 2 and its next generation games. The single-player mode is developed by Arkane Studios and the multiplayer mode is by Kuju Entertainment. Named the most anticipated RPG of the year by leading publications around the world, Dark Messiah of Might & Magic challenges players to ferocious single-player and multiplayer combat set in the Might & Magic universe, one of the gaming industry's most successfully and longest-running fantasy game franchises.
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic will be made available for the PC via Steam and at retail outlets around the world for an estimated price of $50 later this year.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tcc3 @ Sep 1st 2006 8:25AM
What about flying cars? I'm with Avery Brooks. Where's my flying car? Its not the future with no flying cars.
GW @ Sep 5th 2006 7:36AM
Is anyone else sick of seeing Dark Messiah footage from the exact same portion of the game as they have been showing since before E3? It's worrying that they haven't shown more variety or hinted at what else there is to enjoy.
copa @ Aug 31st 2006 7:10PM
Valve needs to figure out the deal with distributing third-party content over Steam.
They are charging $20 for Bejeweled 2 and Zuma, but those games cost less than half that on XBLA.
When you cut out the traditional publisher, there's more to go around for everyone, so at least one of the parties needs to stop being so greedy if they're going to make this work.
Anonymous Hero @ Aug 31st 2006 7:22PM
Dare I sayeth it? Didst I behold a killer of Oblivion? Kicketh Ass
Zozart @ Aug 31st 2006 7:25PM
"They are charging $20 for Bejeweled 2 and Zuma, but those games cost less than half that on XBLA."
I agree with you there. When I saw the prices for those new games I could barely believe it! And to think you can now buy Uplink for $10.
Anyway, I'm glad to see Might & Magic will be coming to Steam. If it's anything like Episode One and SiN Emergence, it'll be cheaper for people in the UK to buy it on Steam rather than in stores, which is a huge plus in my book (I gather this is usually not the case over in the US, though).
obo @ Aug 31st 2006 8:48PM
Damn, I was looking forward to this, too. Oh well.
Will the boxed version require Steam to run?
Scott @ Aug 31st 2006 8:57PM
Um, duh? That's how they distributed the closed beta for the multiplayer. I don't think this was really a secret.
Sub @ Aug 31st 2006 9:39PM
@#3: Valve doesn't decide on the prices, the company that owns the property d0es. In the case of Bejeweled 2 and Zuma, Popcap games set that price, not Valve.
Thrall @ Aug 31st 2006 9:51PM
I love steam. I play all the half-life 2 games, no need to go download a no cd. It's easy for me, and I'm lazy.
However yes, it needs better games. And Dark Messiah was an excellent demo, I cannot wait!
However, if I buy the retail version could I put the cdkey into steam? That way I have a box too (I like having my game box collection under my desk next to me, and my 100+ jewel cases)
copa @ Aug 31st 2006 9:55PM
"Popcap games set that price, not Valve."
Ultimately, that is true. But Popcap has to base their price on the cut that Valve is demanding. If Valve is asking for less than XLBA is, then it why would they charge $20 to sell it on Steam? They would only be competing against themselves.
More likely, Valve has not figured out how to handle reasonable pricing arrangements for 'casual' games, and their cut is forcing Popcap into the higher cost tier.
Twist @ Aug 31st 2006 10:12PM
I am surprised that Ubisoft decided to use Steam instead of just rolling their online online distribution service. Besides being surprising it is also refreshing to hear that they didn't create their own. I still figure every other major publisher/developer will end up with their own (most often horrid) online distribution system but maybe Ubisoft will set a good example. As long as Valve is offering other companies good terms then it should be cheaper to use Steam than to create their own service.
Mark @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:47AM
For your information, Popcap games have been distributing their products online even before getting into Steam. The price of twenty dollars was the same as if you decide to get them from Yahoo Games or other online publishers. Just check it out will you? Whatever cut that was, it's probably the same for Valve. The prices are the same so there...
Mark