Steam is currently the leading the market in online video game sales, but Robot Cache is an upcoming platform looking to dethrone Steam. While simply selling games online would have no effect on Steam -- there are several platforms that also do this that hardly compete with it -- Robot Cache's niche will be in the ability for users to re-sell games to the platform. Users that re-sell will be paid in Robot Cache's cryptocurrency called 'Iron' and can then use their Iron to purchase new games or exchange it for cash.
The Iron economy will function much like modern cryptocurrencies by implementing blockchain technology and working on a self-created market. Another feature that sets the platform apart from others is the profit percentage sent to developers and publishers. Currently, Steam offers a 70 percent cut, but Robot Cache is touting a whopping 95 percent cut of sales going to developers and publishers. Robot Cache is still in development as the company is still finalizing what games will appear on the platform, but is expected to go live sometime in Q2 2018.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Video Game Resale Platforms
- The ability for users to sell used digital versions of video games is a disruptive innovation opportunity.
- Cryptocurrency-powered Marketplaces
- Creating new cryptocurrency systems from scratch can be a disruptive innovation opportunity.
- Developer-focused Sales Platforms
- Offering a higher percentage of sales to game developers and publishers is a disruptive innovation opportunity.
Where This Applies
- Digital Marketplace
- The development of a secondary digital marketplace for video games is a disruptive innovation opportunity.
- Cryptocurrency
- Integrating cryptocurrency into digital media sales is a disruptive innovation opportunity.
- Gaming
- Offering higher profit margins to developers and publishers in the gaming industry is a disruptive innovation opportunity.
