Late last year, Epic announced it would be opening its own digital storefront. To entice developers, the company would offer developers an 88% cut of game sales, taking much less than Steam’s usual 30% fee. The store would also play host to a few PC exclusivity deals – and soon after, big, AAA games joined in, with Metro Exodus and The Division 2 as the marquee titles.
Speaking to MCV in an extensive interview, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney spoke about those two strategies, and how they’d be the only real ways that Epic could “displace” the dominant, ubiquitous Steam. They’re necessary, especially because the Epic Store can’t compete with steam when it comes to features. It’s lacking a few rudimentary tools – and didn’t even have (or, rightly need) a search tool until recently.
“It’s nearly perfect for consumers already…There is no hope of displacing a dominant storefront solely by adding marginally more store features or a marginally better install experience,” he said. “These battles will be won on the basis of game supply, consumer prices, and developer revenue sharing.”
While it’s a little frustrating that Epic didn’t learn much from the many lessons Valve’s learned over the years with Steam you can still expect to see Epic’s Store evolve as the service’s library grows.
“The Epic Games Store team has been working with developers around the industry to identify prospective titles. In this early phase, we are starting with a small number of carefully selected games based on consistent quality across a wide variety of scopes,” Sweeney said. “Throughout 2019, the store will open up more widely.”
Sweeney says that the game business will change dramatically over the short term.
“I think the game business will change more in the next five years than the past ten,” he told MCV. “The last remnants of the old retail model of gaming are falling apart, and the biggest successes are fast-moving indies and fast-moving big competitors – exemplified by Fortnite and Apex Legends. All of the old decisions need to be revisited.”
The Epic Store is just part of that change.
Last Updated: March 13, 2019
Admiral Chief
March 13, 2019 at 15:06
What about a less resource intensive client for starters?
Kromas
March 13, 2019 at 15:06
No.!
Pariah
March 13, 2019 at 15:16
Wait until Google gets a launcher. Chrome? Pfffff. HOLD MY BEER!
PoisonedBelial
March 13, 2019 at 15:16
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e31dff84f1261079b8b263c25faa99706ea314115f0ad845ad1bbffb57ca88f1.jpg
Admiral Chief
March 13, 2019 at 15:27
HAH, HOLD THE KEG!
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
March 13, 2019 at 15:26
What it still needs:
– Be more stable. Seriously that client has hit over 80% CPU usage (6700k i7) for me at least 3 times
– Have reviews
– Have a good refund policy
– Get local pricing where we don’t get screwed on pricing
– Have good support
THEN I will move over to it, but until then I will probably only use it as a last option.
Pariah
March 13, 2019 at 15:26
Local pricing is the biggest, biggest deal. Since Steam went local it’s been almost unbeatable for price, with only the typical AAA titles doing their usual “fuck the consumer” pricing option.
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
March 13, 2019 at 15:26
I do actually find GreenManGaming to be best price when it comes to AAA games. I always check with them first for any game offers and then the rest.
Pariah
March 13, 2019 at 15:26
I don’t really bother with AAA prices. I typically wait for sale, with one or two exceptions where price doesn’t matter.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 13, 2019 at 15:38
I doubt very much that they’ll displace Steam, thanks to their timed exclusivity arrangements they’ll do far more damage to other third party retailers like GOG, Humble, Fanatical, etc.
Llama In The Rift
March 13, 2019 at 15:38
Please guys….lets see if Epic can count to 3 before we make a move or jump platforms.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 13, 2019 at 15:45
Good point. A fortnight is only two weeks.
HairyEwok
March 14, 2019 at 09:12
And also force people onto their platform through taking crowd funded games and placing them on their market platform as an exclusive timed release.