[RugnirViking]

It just makes no sense though? like if you install the game on your laptop and your desktop, suddenly it costs the developer 40c even though you still only payed $25. Maybe you mess up the configuration while modding their game, and had to reinstall. Another 20c. It hangs over the developer's head like a sword of damocles long after you paid your money. It has literally infinate potential costs, and will keep ticking away costing them money long after they stopped bringing in much from the game.

Surely in all respects a percentage fee from all sales does the same job but with much less BS random edge cases, and can never be a net negative for the developer

[HelloNurse]

The typical scenario is a demo/shareware/free to play game: 1000 installs cost $200 in install fees, up front, and therefore require an amazing conversion rate and/or an amazing income per paying user to break even.

[EdwardDiego]

Yep, that's a fair point.

[nullandvoid]

As an anecdote there are games I have easily re-installed 20-30+ times as I quit for a time, change machine etc.

[Akronymus]

For KSP1 alone I made about 30 installs due to modding alone. Different versions and different modsets.