Epic wants more PC games exclusively for the hated Games Store

Epic Games has announced it is making PC game developers an offer they’ll find hard to refuse. If you bring a PC game exclusively to the Epic Game Store and not to Steam or Xbox Game Pass, you should receive 100% of the income for 6 months.

What is this offer?

  • The program is called “Epic First Run” and was announced today, August 23, by Epic Games. Those who participate in the program will receive 100% of the revenue from the sales of the game for 6 months. Epic Games is waiving its 12% stake for now.
  • The offer applies to developers planning to release a game on October 16th or after, and is exclusive to the Epic Game Stores.
  • They must refrain from publishing their game on PC to third-party stores (like Steam) or third-party streaming services (like Xbox Game Pass). On consoles, developers can do whatever they want.
  • Red Dead Redemption wasn’t on Steam for months back then:

    Red Dead Redemption 2: Official Trailer

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    Developers get 100% of earnings for 6 months if they don’t use Steam

    What’s next? After the first 6 months, developers will then receive 88% of the revenue, while Epic will keep 12%.

    Then developers can also bring their game to Steam or Xbox Game Pass.

    Which stores are excluded? Platforms such as the Humble Store, Green Man Gaming or a developer’s first-party store are allowed.

    Then who do you want to meet? Epic Games apparently wants to start a new attack against Steam: They take 30% of the revenue.

    We know: Epic Games is willing to spend a lot of money to fight the giant Steam: In April 2021 we reported that Epic Games had already lost $300 million in the fight with Steam.

    Why is this such a problem for many gamers? Most PC gamers have their games collection on Steam, all in one place. There are achievements and forums where you can discuss the games.

    The Epic Games Store is hated for keeping “Exclusives” titles off Steam, such as Red Dead Redemption 2 or Borderlands 3.

    For many gamers, the Epic Game Store is just a place where you regularly pick up free titles that you don’t actually play.

    The first reactions on Twitter are partly negative. “Disgusting” is the behavior of Epic Games, it says. Another user etches: “100% of 0 is still 0.”

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    In the past, the Epic Games Store has repeatedly sought direct conflict with Steam.

    According to Epic boss Tim Sweeney, the only way to challenge Steam’s monopoly position is through exclusive titles.

    A duel for several years: Epic Games vs. Steam.

    Sweeney opposes platforms demanding 30% of revenue. He thinks that hinders development.

    Sweeney also sought direct conflict with Apple and Google for Epic Games’ most successful game, the shooter Fortnite. Both, like Steam, took 30% of sales:

    Apple and Google are throwing Fortnite out of their app stores – Epic is suing both

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