Junk Store 2.0 Gets Details On New Features, Subscription Pricing, and More

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When it comes to playing non-Steam games on the Steam Deck, none are as integrated as Junk Store is. The Decky Loader plugin puts the Epic Games Store right into your Game Mode library with its own integrated menu that allows you to do everything without needing to go to Desktop mode. It's an awesome tool, and one that I used quite often. And it looks like the next version of the store is coming soon, with new features, a faster and more stable client, and a price tag.

The new version of the Junk Store is going to be completely independent from Decky Loader and will have massive performance improvements, which are outlined in the Coming Soon section of their website. It will be quicker, more stable, have 1,000 game tabs as a limit instead of the old 100, and a simpler extension generation. On top of that, there will be support for more stores, starting with Amazon and possibly heading into Itch.io later on. There will be a download queue, support for emulators and ROM downloading, experimental cloud saves, and support for GOG DOS and ScummVM games. This means we will be able to access all of these libraries and more right from Game Mode on our Steam Decks.

However, this is going to come with a cost. Those diving into Junk Store for the first time can pay $40 for 12 months of updates, which includes all extension presets released (GOG, Amazon, Itch.io, etc.), and will get to keep whatever version of the application you have if you decide not to renew. There's also a 7-day free trial to see if it's something you want, and there's no current release date set for the public, but they maintain that it's close.

This has been a controversial update ever since it was announced. Junk Store started as a free Decky Plugin, so moving towards a paid service drew a lot of criticism. Personally, I feel like $40 for the program isn't a bad deal, especially if you're getting free games from Epic, GOG, and Amazon Prime constantly. The 12-month subscription is what worries me the most. They say updates can come faster, but won't commit to weekly or monthly updates. The refusal of lifetime options or a one-time purchase is disappointing, and while I understand some of their reasoning, which they mention on their website, it also means we rely on their update schedule, which isn't guaranteed either.

I did have some worries I wanted clarity on, and I was able to talk to the developer of Junk Store, Eben Bruyns, to ask some of these questions. I have no issues with what the program is or what it is trying to be, but I was curious about the subscription-based pricing, the reasoning behind it, and the GOG addon situation:

Noah (Bold):

With the 12-month subscription of updates, how frequently will Junk Store be updated?

Eben (Not Bold):

Now that we control the full release cycle, we can push updates more frequently and with less friction. While we can’t guarantee a fixed schedule, separating extensions from the core plugin means fixes and new features can roll out quickly — sometimes within minutes once verified. We’re also building stable, beta, and test release streams so users can choose how cutting-edge they want to be. The pipeline is still evolving, and we will be bringing on help to speed things up as resourcing permits.

We understand some users might worry about updates after release. The core commitment is a stable, working product with ongoing maintenance and support. New features will come as development allows, but they’re not what you're paying for upfront.

Users should base their purchase decision on what the product currently offers — not on promises or speculative future features. If the current feature set doesn’t meet their needs, they’re free to wait and buy once it supports what they’re looking for.

Why should people invest in a 12-month subscription of updates if you're asking them to just look at what the product currently offers? At that point, it sounds like you're asking them to just focus on a singular release, which would make more sense to have as a one-time purchase.

If someone only wants to pay once, they’re welcome to, and they’ll keep whatever version is current at the time of purchase. But let’s be honest: Valve will break things over time. That’s not hypothetical, it’s guaranteed.

The 12-month subscription isn’t just about new features, it’s about keeping things working in a constantly changing environment. SteamOS updates, runtime changes, compatibility shifts; all require ongoing work just to maintain stability.

You’re not just funding new features, you’re funding the effort to keep the product alive in a hostile, shifting environment. The reality is developer time costs money.

You can absolutely treat it like a one-time purchase, but understand that what you’re funding is a snapshot in time. If you want it to evolve and survive future breakage, that’s what the subscription is for.

So hypothetically, if someone pays for a one-time snapshot and the program breaks 13 months after, will they not receive any updates that fix their version?

Yes, Valve will break things over time, that’s unavoidable on a rapidly evolving platform like Steam Deck. That’s exactly why the subscription exists: to fund ongoing maintenance and ensure Junk Store stays compatible and stable.

My model is like CodeWeavers’ CrossOver, you buy a license for the current version and can keep using it indefinitely. But to keep receiving updates, fixes, and new features, you need the annual subscription. Without renewing, you keep your version but won’t get updates or fixes as SteamOS changes.

This setup keeps the project sustainable and responsive to platform changes, rather than promising “lifetime” support that realistically can’t be guaranteed.

The GOG Addon explanation (on their website) is unclear to me. Will that addon ever be released for free to those using the Decky Loader plugin?

There’s no guarantee that the GOG addon will be released for free. While I had hoped that might be possible early on, the reality is that maintaining it alongside everything else takes time and resources.

To respect those who have paid for it, and to ensure it stays functional, it will remain a paid product for now. If demand fades or the economics change, I’ll revisit the decision. But it’s not something I can promise, sustainability comes first.

On the website, it sounds like it depends on sales specifically. So if Junk Store 2.0 sells well, does that indicate the GOG addon will become free, and if it doesn't sell as well, it won't?

When I mention “sales” in the quoted section, I’m referring to all purchases of the GOG extension across every platform where it’s available.

The main point is that continued funding from these purchases supports ongoing maintenance of both the GOG extension and its open-source components.

Okay so it's referring specifically to GOG, not JS (Junk Store) 2 at all?

Yes.

While I do appreciate what Junk Store is and what it is trying to do, I still have my worries about it. Paying a monthly subscription for a program with no set update schedule that requires you to pay again if the program breaks outside of your 12-month subscription, unless you renew, doesn't set my mind at ease. I understand the reality behind development and its costs, and it can be costly, but without any promises on updates or support, it feels more like an investment than a purchase, and that requires more trust.

The GOG Addon situation also adds some fuel to the fire. I understand respecting those who paid for the Addon, but it sounds like if demand is there, based on how well it sells, it will determine if it goes free for everyone, which I find perplexing. Respecting those who paid for access to the addon would insinuate that it will stay paid, and I find waiting to release it for free to everyone after more people pay for it to be the opposite of respecting the paid customers.

In my opinion, subscription services require trust in the company behind them. Xbox's Game Pass, Netflix, and Spotify all can make bad decisions sometimes, but they have a proven track record that shows they are updating their services consistently and maintaining them well. This will be an uphill battle, which is another worry I have.

Junk Store is a great idea and has a lot of potential, and I love how version 2.0 sounds, but the subscription-based pricing, lack of dedication to an update schedule, and past handling of the plugin and GOG addon do give me pause. It's nice that this will be a separate and more stable entity compared to the Decky Loader plugin, and I can even justify the $40 price tag, but I find it hard to go all in with the subscription. I could see myself justifying a $40 price for Junk Store with additional optional charges for extra features or modules, but a one-time cost would be more appealing to me.

Still, I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and see where this road leads. I haven't tried the new version yet, but I will be trying it soon and will have a separate article on that experience.

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