How do I choose between different digital game stores for console and PC distribution when audience access matters most?

If audience access is your top priority, choose the store based on where your players already are, how easily they can buy/install your game, and how much friction the platform adds. A good way to decide is to rank stores by these factors:

1) Start with your target audience

Ask:

• Which platform do they use most?
  • PC-only players often expect Steam first.
  • Console players usually buy through the native console store.
• Do they care about convenience or exclusivity?
  • If convenience matters, go where the biggest audience and easiest install path are.
  • If your audience is niche, a smaller store might be okay if it matches the community.
• Are they international?
  • Stores with broad regional support, local pricing, and strong payment options improve access.

2) Compare storefront reach and user behavior

For PC distribution:

• Steam: usually the widest reach and easiest discovery for mainstream PC players.
• Epic Games Store: smaller audience, but can be useful if you have support from Epic or want lower fees.
• GOG: best for DRM-free, audience tends to be more specific; great for some genres.
• Microsoft Store / PC Game Pass: useful if your game fits subscription/discovery strategies.

For console distribution:

• PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop: these are effectively mandatory for that platform.
  If you want that console audience, you need to be on the relevant native store.

3) Check friction for the player

Audience access is often lost through friction, not lack of interest:

• Account requirements: extra accounts can reduce conversion.
• DRM: some players avoid heavy DRM.
• Regional availability: if the store isn’t available in a player’s country, access suffers.
• Payment methods: local payment support matters a lot in some regions.
• Download/install complexity: simpler is usually better.

4) Consider discoverability versus portability

A store with a larger user base isn’t always best if your game is hard to find there.

• Large store = bigger potential audience, but more competition.
• Smaller store = less competition, but fewer users.
• If you already have a community, the best store may be the one that makes purchase easiest, not the one with the biggest catalog.

5) Think about platform-specific features

Some stores/platforms offer advantages that improve access:

• Achievements, cloud saves, friends lists, subscriptions, cross-play
• Controller support
• Regional pricing
• Bundle/discount visibility These can make your game easier to adopt and retain players.

6) Practical decision rule

If audience access matters most, use this rule of thumb:

• PC game aimed at mainstream players: prioritize Steam.
• PC game aimed at DRM-free or enthusiast audiences: consider GOG in addition to Steam.
• PC game with subscription/distribution opportunities: consider Game Pass / Microsoft Store.
• Console game: release on the native console store(s) that match your audience.
• Multi-platform game: launch where your audience already has the lowest purchase friction, then expand.

7) Best approach for most indies

A common strategy is:

1. Launch on the primary store where your target audience already buys games
2. Support additional stores/platforms if they materially improve reach
3. Avoid fragmenting your audience too early unless the extra store meaningfully increases access

Simple checklist

Choose the store with the best mix of:

• Audience presence
• Regional availability
• Low purchase/install friction
• Good pricing/payment support
• Acceptable revenue terms
• Enough discoverability for your genre

If you want, I can help you make a store-selection matrix for your specific game genre, platform(s), and target regions.