GeoGuessr's Steam Release Hit With Overwhelmingly Negative Reviews For "Completely Pointless" Monetization (www.thegamer.com)
from fne8w2ah@lemmy.world to games@lemmy.world on 13 May 2025 17:56
https://lemmy.world/post/29600352

#games

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[deleted] on 13 May 2025 18:52 next collapse

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MBech@feddit.dk on 13 May 2025 20:00 next collapse

You don’t slave over Geuguessr like some sort of MMORPG?

usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca on 13 May 2025 20:44 next collapse

It’s why I never got into it even though it’s fun. Long before Steam they’ve had a subscription which is supposedly justified due to Google charging for their API or whatever.

AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works on 13 May 2025 22:48 collapse

Makes sense I guess? It’s not like they can do anything about that cost.

Stovetop@lemmy.world on 13 May 2025 22:02 collapse

My understanding is that Google charges for use of their API. The game could switch to a traditional flat price model, but the moment they stop making enough in sales to pay Google for API access, the entire game is dead for everyone.

The subscription sucks but it’s basically a requirement to continue running. Would be nice if there was any sort of open map standard with even half the street view data Google has so they wouldn’t need Google at all.

[deleted] on 14 May 2025 01:40 collapse

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Stovetop@lemmy.world on 14 May 2025 02:12 collapse

No arguments here. I used to love Geoguessr when it was 100% free, but have never once paid for it since they switched to a subscription model. I just blame Google more than Geoguessr is all.

jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.works on 13 May 2025 19:02 next collapse

Currently marked as “Overwhelmingly negative” with 17% positive reviews.

Endymion_Mallorn@kbin.melroy.org on 13 May 2025 20:25 next collapse

If only the iOS version got the same response.

SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world on 13 May 2025 23:18 collapse

Apple users like wasting money

Katana314@lemmy.world on 13 May 2025 22:00 next collapse

Did this happen because of Google API pricing changes?

SomethingBurger@jlai.lu on 13 May 2025 22:04 collapse

The pricing changes happened years ago. This is about the game being F2P but nothing can actually be done without paying, and subscriptions from the Web version don’t grant access to the Steam game.

raltoid@lemmy.world on 14 May 2025 01:16 collapse

Regardless of the game, there was a recent change that went into effect on March 1.

developers.google.com/maps/…/faq

raltoid@lemmy.world on 14 May 2025 01:10 next collapse

So you install a “f2p” game, get ten rounds(which takes a few minutes) and then you have to subscribe to play anymore, and the only option is $30 for a year? And it’s missing features that are on the website version.

Yeah, that is deserved rating.

southernwolf@pawb.social on 14 May 2025 12:49 collapse

Honestly, people are mostly* blaming the victim here. I used to adore playing Geoguessr years ago, but that came to an end when a subscription was needed to play it. That came about because Google started charging exorbitant prices for the Google Maps and Streetview API.

*Yeah, the other issues like lacking features and not using the subscription from the website are dumb, and shouldn’t have been a thing for the Steam release. But the core issue of the subscription? The fault for that lies squarely with Google…