Big Download is following up a rumor that Gamestop may be dropping Dawn of War 2 because it is coming bundled with Steam. The objection is allegedly not Steam per se but the requirement that users are required to use the Steam client, which includes a store, in order to play the game.
Meanwhile, developer Stardock, which launched a competing platform called Impulse this past Summer is nearing release of its answer to Steamworks called Impulse Reactor. While the two are similar in terms of functionality, Impulse Reactor does not require users to use a client but is, instead, a DLL that can be included with the game and hence does not require someone at Gamestop to become a customer of a competing store to play the game.
Big Download has further reporting:
So what if you are a developer who wants to be able to have a PC game through both retail stores and digital outlets? Is there some way you can have a balance so one is not competing with the other? Stardock"s CEO Brad Wardell says, "Yep!" and is aiming to prove it with a new virtual platform library called Impulse Reactor.