Epic undercuts Steam with new store that gives devs more money

guest · Dec 4, 2018

Epic undercuts Steam with new store that gives devs more money
New storefront will take 12% of a game's revenues, rather than Steam's 30%
December 4, 2018
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018...am-with-new-store-that-gives-devs-more-money/

Epic Games announced it's having a go at the leader this morning with an upcoming platform, the Epic Games Store, that promises more developer-friendly publishing terms.

Unlike Valve, which takes a baseline 30 percent of revenues from most games and content sold on Steam, Epic is promising to take only 12 percent of developer revenues on its new store.

"As a developer ourselves, we’ve always wanted access to a store with fair revenue-sharing that gives us direct access to our customers," Epic Founder and CEO Tim Sweeney told Ars in an email interview.
Still, Sweeney says he isn't expecting to take over Valve's dominant position in the near future. "We’re not looking to crush Steam any time soon," he said.
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Comment

That makes it one third the revenue loss compared to Steam's 35% effective take rate. That is a massive undercut and Valve is going to have to do something about it very soon [...]

Good on Epic games for introducing competition to the content distribution dominance of Google Play and Steam.
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Kirk Reynolds · Dec 5, 2018

Part of that 30% that Valve takes covers hardware infrastructure for multiplayer and whatnot that the publishers/studios don't have to bother with. I doubt the 12% that Epic takes will cover that.

guest · Dec 7, 2018

The Epic Games Store is now live
December 6, 2018
https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/06/epic-games-store/

First announced earlier this week, the Epic Games Store is targeted squarely at Steam — the giant in the digital game commerce space — and it quietly went live today.

Right now there’s a small cluster of games available [...] But Epic is saying that’s there’s a lot more to come. In particular, the store will offer a free game every two weeks, starting out with Subnautica from December 14-17 and Super Meat Boy from December 28 until January 10.

It makes absolute sense that the company is aiming to capitalize on the phenomenal success of Fortnite — which was estimated to be grossing as much as $2 million per day in the summer — by building a destination for gamers.
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TairikuOkami · Dec 7, 2018

I am not interested in games, that are not on steam, even if they are free. People invest a lot of money and time into their steam profiles, they are not just gonna to switch. It is not just about games. There are already many stores like GOG, Ubisoft, etc, but they fail to deliver. Devs might like Epic store, but I doubt, that most players will. Though it might bring steam prices down.

Floyd 57 · Dec 7, 2018

TairikuOkami said: ↑

I am not interested in games, that are not on steam, even if they are free
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Why not? Where does this logic come from? Don't tell me you have... friends there and you want to play together

TairikuOkami · Dec 7, 2018

Floyd 57 said: ↑

Why not? Where does this logic come from? Don't tell me you have... friends there and you want to play together
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Yes, because steam is not just about games. There are friends, achievements, workshop items and etc. I spent more money on cards (to raise my level) than on games themselves.
It is similar to Facebook, there are hundreds of alternatives, that are better, safer and more private than FB, but what gives, when everyone is on FB, so FB is gonna to stay, just like steam.
Code:
https://steamcommunity.com/id/tairikuokami

Floyd 57 · Dec 7, 2018

TairikuOkami said: ↑
Yes, because steam is not just about games. There are friends, achievements, workshop items and etc. I spent more money on cards (to raise my level) than on games themselves.
It is similar to Facebook, there are hundreds of alternatives, that are better, safer and more private than FB, but what gives, when everyone is on FB, so FB is gonna to stay, just like steam.
Code:
https://steamcommunity.com/id/tairikuokami
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That is disgusting... And I thought drug addiction was bad

Playing games, cool. Buying anime girl cartoon cards to show other people? Ehh...

TairikuOkami · Dec 7, 2018

Floyd 57 said: ↑

That is disgusting... And I thought drug addiction was bad
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Funny, if I had there pictures of drugged and drunk soldiers, you would find it cool, but as for something nice and innocent, it is meh. Strange times, strange times.

Circuit · Dec 7, 2018

I have a lot of steam games.

They (Epic) are just starting, have to give them time, everyone want's instance results now a days.

I like that Steam might have competition in the future, might make Steam better.

Some are "drugged and drunk soldiers" in reality today, especially drugged. And lets not forget the mental unfits.

Like you say "stange times".

Floyd 57 · Dec 7, 2018

TairikuOkami said: ↑

nice and innocent
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Mmm ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Honestly, I had always thought of steam as the "get games site", probably since I don't use it much, but now I understand what's the appeal. I think it's kinda like living in a virtual world, but each to his own, everyone has his fetishes (I have like 10k+ hours on LoL, playing since S1)

Btw, how do you run Hitman with that toaster there?

guest · Dec 13, 2018

The Epic Games Store is the best thing that could happen to Steam
... and the PC gaming market overall
December 13, 2018
https://www.engadget.com/2018/12/13/epic-games-store-steam-competition/

This is a fundamental shift for the PC gaming ecosystem, which, for more than a decade, has been dominated by Steam, Valve's digital distribution hub.

"If you were running a store without competition and you were making billions of dollars a year, how much time and energy would you dedicate to making it better?"
My answer is, 'The minimum amount of time, effort, and money required.'"

Before it could properly innovate, Steam needed competition. And now, with the launch of the Epic Games store, it has exactly that.
Steam's updated revenue split can't compare with Epic's, which offers 88 percent to all developers, but it's a start.
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Floyd 57 · Dec 13, 2018

mood said: ↑

The Epic Games Store is the best thing that could happen to Steam
... and the PC gaming market overall
December 13, 2018
https://www.engadget.com/2018/12/13/epic-games-store-steam-competition/
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More like "steam now makes less revenue from devs" than "innovate"

guest · Dec 28, 2018

Tim Sweeney addresses misconceptions regarding the Epic Games Store
'Epic does not share user data with Tencent or any other company'
December 27, 2018
https://www.techspot.com/news/78027...isconceptions-regarding-epic-games-store.html

What just happened? Epic recently listed the upcoming game Beyond Good and Evil 2 as requiring an internet connection. This raised some red flags in the gaming community regarding the reasoning for it, which in turn lead to scrutiny of the Epic Store's EULA and criticisms followed. The uproar became so fierce Tim Sweeney had to post some rebuttals.

The original rant in the thread suggested that the Epic Store was “literally spyware” that reports back to parent company Tencent. It also accused the game maker of having a "terms-of-service" agreement that allows it to “steal” user-generated content (UGC), among other minor complaints.

The accusation arose from a misinterpreted portion of the End User License Agreement(EULA) that says that it has the right to monitor game usage and send that data to its parent company.

“Epic does not share user data with Tencent or any other company,” he said. “We don’t share it, sell it, or broker access to it for advertising like so many other companies do. I’m the founder and controlling shareholder of Epic and would never allow this to happen.”
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Firecat · Dec 28, 2018

I had a lot of hopes from origin, but in the end, it did not really make a dent on steam. I wish the epic store guys all the best.. ..

guest · Jan 13, 2019

Epic's updated game store refund policy matches Steam
It's now roughly on par in terms of flexibility
January 13, 2019
https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/13/epic-games-store-updates-refund-policy/

The Epic Games Store wasn't all that refund-friendly on launch. You could only ask for two refunds in an entire year (albeit after unlimited hours of play), and you had to submit details like your IP address in a support ticket to have a hope of getting your money back.

According to Epic's Sergey Galyonkin, the company has updated its refund policy to allow unlimited refunds as long as they're within 14 days of purchase and with less than two hours of play time.
The change in policy comes shortly after complaints about the quality of Epic's support (most of it before the Games Store), although it's not believed to be in response to those concerns.
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Beyonder · Jan 13, 2019

I think it's great we get some more competition in this market... but I'd rather see GOG being the biggest player than Steam or Epic

guest · Jan 28, 2019

Metro Exodus also ditching Steam and moving to Epic Games Store
January 28, 2019
https://www.neowin.net/news/metro-exodus-also-ditching-steam-and-moving-to-epic-games-store

The latest game to join Epic Games Store's exclusivity pool is Metro Exodus, which has ditched Steam to move onto the new digital store, making it the first game in the trilogy to not launch through Steam for PC.

According to the announcement made today by Epic Games and Metro publisher Deep Silver, it seems the decision to move was mainly due to Epic's generous 88% split revenue share system. Deep Silver CEO Dr. Klemens Kundratitz said:

“Epic’s generous revenue terms are a game changer that will allow publishers to invest more into content creation, or pass on savings to the players. [...]"
Ubisoft also pulled The Division 2's release from Steam quite recently, moving to sell the game solely through its own Uplay store and the Epic Games Store.
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Rasheed187 · Feb 2, 2019

mood said: ↑

The Epic Games Store is now live
December 6, 2018
https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/06/epic-games-store/
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Is the new Unreal Tournament already playable and worth it?

guest · Apr 26, 2019

Epic Games Boss Says They'll Stop Doing Exclusives If Steam Gives Developers More Money
April 25, 2019
https://kotaku.com/epic-games-boss-says-theyll-stop-doing-exclusives-if-st-1834299780

Last night, Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney tweeted that his company would end its controversial exclusivity agreements if Steam raised its revenue cut for developers. It’s a strong statement, even if there are reasons to be skeptical of Sweeney’s position.

“If Steam committed to a permanent 88% revenue share for all developers and publishers without major strings attached,” Sweeney wrote, “Epic would hastily organize a retreat from exclusives (while honoring our partner commitments) and consider putting our own games on Steam.”
Since the Epic Game Store launched in December, the company behind Fortnite and the Unreal Engine has struck several exclusivity deals with high-profile games like Borderlands 3 and The Division 2, preventing those games from appearing on Steam.

In a followup tweet, Sweeney wrote, “Such a move would be a glorious moment in the history of PC gaming, and would have a sweeping impact on other platforms for generations to come. [...]"
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guest · Jul 1, 2019

Paradox exec: Steam’s 30% fee is “outrageous”
Wester says modern game distribution "doesn't cost anything" compared to retail model
July 1, 2019
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/07/paradox-exec-steams-30-percent-fee-is-outrageous/

Speaking at a Gamelab panel hosted by GamesIndustry.biz last week, Paradox Chairman of the Board and former CEO Fredrik Wester called that state of affairs "outrageous," adding, "I think the platform holders are taking too much money. Everyone in the press here, just quote me on that."
[...] So Epic has done a great job for the whole industry, because you get 88 percent. Fantastic move. Thank you very much."

The Epic Game Store, with its undercutting 12% fees, does not provide many of these features as of yet (but the company does have a public roadmap for adding many of them in the near future).
The extra 18% of revenue publishers get under Epic's 88/12 split will lead to reinvestment and price reductions that will benefit the entire ecosystem, he argued.

If the Epic strategy either succeeds in building a second major storefront for PC games with an 88/12 revenue split, or even just leads other stores to significantly improve their terms, the result will be a major wave of reinvestment in game development and a lowering of costs."
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guest · Aug 28, 2019

Steam's business model is 'unrealistic' according to Ubisoft VP
...and "doesn't reflect where the world is today in terms of game distribution."
August 28, 2019
https://www.windowscentral.com/steams-business-model-unrealistic-according-ubisoft-vp

Ubisoft's Vice President of partnerships and revenue, Chris Early, believes that Steam's current business model is "unrealistic" adding "It doesn't reflect where the world is today in terms of game distribution" in an interview with The New York Times.

Ubisoft notably decided not to sell The Division 2 on Steam, instead opting to sell it on the Epic Games Store and UPlay, the latter being Ubisoft's own store. Currently, Valve gets a 30 percent cut from game sales through Steam. The Epic Games Store takes a lower 12 percent. Ubisoft doesn't have to give a cut to any store owner when a game is purchased through UPlay since it's Ubisoft's own store.
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The New York Times: Epic Games wants to change the way people buy video games, but it faces the dominance of Steam

guest · Jan 14, 2020

Epic Games Store to continue giving away games weekly in 2020
January 14, 2020
https://www.polygon.com/2020/1/14/21065448/epic-game-store-free-games-2020

The company behind Fortnite also gave away free games to anyone who downloaded its client. Today it announced that promotion will continue throughout 2020.

“New decade means new games and we’re looking at a great start with tons of amazing titles coming exclusively to the Epic Games Store in 2020,” Epic wrote in a press release. “To kick things off, we’re extending our weekly free game program throughout 2020. Every single week, come back to claim your game. Once claimed, it’s yours to keep forever!”
According to Epic, the company has 108 million customers and $680 million in PC games revenue via the Epic Games Store.

“In 2020 we’ll continue to lead the way in open and developer-friendly store terms, with 88% revenue sharing, support for developer and publisher payment systems, and keyless purchasing integration with Humble (more PC stores coming soon),” Epic said in its press release.
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Epic Games: Epic Games Store Weekly Free Games in 2020!

guest · May 14, 2020

Grand Theft Auto V is free to claim on the Epic Games Store this week
May 14, 2020
https://www.neowin.net/news/grand-theft-auto-v-is-free-to-claim-on-the-epic-games-store-this-week

Epic Games Store has put on offer Grand Theft Auto V to claim and keep for free this week, taking the place of Death Coming.

Grand Theft Auto V is the seventh title in the GTA franchise and is the second best-selling video game of all time. It is the first title in the series to feature multiple protagonists. It was received favorably by critics and players alike at launch and received several accolades over the years that followed, including three BAFTAs for the British Game, Game Design, and Multiplayer categories.
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Epic Games Store is offering Grand Theft Auto V for Windows. It's also worth noting that this is the game's "Premium Edition," which includes $1,000,000 of bonus cash for GTA Online.
If you wish to claim Grand Theft Auto V, you can find it here, but you may need to enable two-factor authentication to do so. It will be free to claim until May 21.
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guest · May 14, 2020

Free GTA 5 offer knocks Epic Games Store offline
‘We are currently experiencing high traffic on the Epic Games Store’
May 14, 2020
https://www.polygon.com/2020/5/14/21258701/gta-5-free-download-epic-games-store-500-errors

The Epic Games Store went offline on Thursday morning as users anticipating the launch of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 5 for free on the platform overloaded its servers. News of the game’s free release leaked early on Wednesday on the Epic Games Store Twitter account.

The website and launcher both went down just before 11 a.m. EDT, when the Premium Edition of the game for Windows PC was scheduled to go live. “We are currently experiencing high traffic on the Epic Games Store,” Epic Games said on Twitter.

“We are aware that users may be encountering slow loading times, 500 errors, or launcher crashing at this time and we are actively working to scale. We’ll provide an update as soon as we can.”
The high traffic appears to have also knocked the Fortnite servers offline, with issues impacting “Launcher logins and in-game purchases,” according to a tweet from the Fortnite Status account.
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guest · May 19, 2020

Epic Games rolls out self-service refunds for eligible purchases
May 19, 2020
https://www.neowin.net/news/epic-games-rolls-out-self-service-refunds-for-eligible-purchases

Epic Games has revealed today the launch of a self-service refund tool on its online marketplace. The new option allows customers to self-refund all by themselves, assuming they are processing refunds for eligible purchases.
The self-refund applies to all games, provided that users have not played more than two hours of a particular title and not more than 14 days have passed since the purchase date. Any reason for refund is also accepted [...]

Epic Games is also revamping how its system determines game ownership. That means ownership authorization now takes place earlier in the launch process and you will see an error message if your account doesn't own the title being launched.
Additionally, the company has partnered with third-party digital sales platforms including Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, and Genba Digital to provide keyless purchases for Epic Games Store games.

Epic Games also announced a new bandwidth management tool [...]
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Epic Games: Development Update: Self-Refund, Keyless Partner Integration and Changes to Ownership Authorization

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