News Epic Games Store

[Blizniak]

This is definitely the biggest news of the day. Journalists seem excited, just like they were when Discord announced their store. Some consumers seem excited as it brings more competition to the market. Some developers seem happy, some not so much. I'm pretty sure where our community stands on the issue but it's still worth discussing.

Fortnite dev launches Epic Games Store that takes just 12% of revenue

So Epic announces they're opening a store with a more lenient revenue split than most of the competitors: 88/12.
They also forego their standard 5% of your Unreal Engine game revenue from Epic Games Store.
They're promising automated refunds down the line. They'll be handled manually for now.
Unlike Steam the Epic Games Store won't have separate forums for each game or any forums at all. User feedback will be handled via individual reports directly to devs.
Regional pricing? Cloud saves? Streaming capabilities? Linux support? All unknown for now AFAIK.

How do you guys think this will go? Is it another Discord store that seemingly came and went without anyone noticing or will Epic actually put some effort into this?

 

[Hektor]

I'm fairly convinced it's gonna be yet another store that's talking the talk but isn't ready to be walking the walk.

 

[lashman]

I'm fairly convinced it's gonna be yet another store that's talking the talk but isn't ready to be walking the walk.

probably .... getting to where steam is now (feature-wise) takes A LOT of time ... and money

 

[Blizniak]

getting to where steam is now (feature-wise) takes A LOT of time ... and money

True. In that GamesBeat article Sweeney at least seems aware that this is going to a long-term undertaking. I have no idea how WeGame works in China, maybe Tencent can help in some way with their experience.
We know Epic can afford a lot right now so now they "only" have to hire the right people, make the right decisions and be patient.

 

[MegaApple]

Unless they talk about bring regional pricing for currencies other than the usual USD/GBP/EURO, this news means nothing to me.

 

[lashman]

Unless they talk about bring regional pricing for currencies other than the usual USD/GBP/EURO, this news means nothing to me.

i can almost guarantee you there won't be regional pricing on there for a looooong time .... if ever

 

[CthulhuSars]

If Epic is serious about it and have a ton of resources to throw at it then go for it. Steam has taken years to build and get to the point it is now. It offers things such as integrated communities that no other storefront has even tried to replicate or do.

 

[lashman]

If Epic is serious about it and have a ton of resources to throw at it then go for it. Steam has taken years to build and get to the point it is now. It offers things such as integrated communities that no other storefront has even tried to replicate or do.

epic won't have that ... they already said there will be no forums in their store/launcher .... to "protect the devs"

 

[uraizen]

We'll take a smaller percentage if you use our store that provides almost no services. Sound good? Nah, a galaxy brain publisher would generate free keys then sell the games on their client. You guuuuys, we're selling the games on the epic game's client! Steam lets Ubisoft use uplay, don't be dicks. You want to be competitive, right?

 

[「Echo」]

I don't really like this much at all. Don't trust Epic. Don't trust their Tencent overlords. Don't trust they'll match Steam on the features side of things either.

I'm a little bit worried though, cuz Fortnite is really popular and people are really lazy. You have potentially millions of users who may just be lazy enough to use Epic's store just because they already have it installed thanks to Fortnite.

 

[lashman]

I don't really like this much at all. Don't trust Epic. Don't trust their Tencent overlords. Don't trust they'll match Steam on the features side of things either.

yeah, that's what i was saying earlier - at least Volvo has a CHOICE ... they can choose to do good stuff for the consumers and/or developers

Epic doesn't - they're publicly traded ... their clients aren't the gamers OR the devs ... their clients are their shareholders, so they'll do whatever makes them more money

 

[Anteater]

Well, probably will give some devs another place for exposure. Maybe for newer games though.

Would be interesting how many of the fortnite players will spend money on game purchases. What if buying games there drop you Fornite items?

 

[Lain]

Good for developers to maintain a bigger piece of the pie, but if it doesn't bring good things to me, I'm not sure why I'd care to use their store.
By good things, I mean good features and services, along with better prices, because let's face it, as much as devs want to take back as much of the cut from a sale without having to give a part to the store selling it, us consumers (or at least, me) want to pay as little as possible.

It'll be interesting to watch how this evolves anyways.

 

[lashman]

yeah, we'll see how it goes .... i mean - it's not like suddenly everyone will just release their games on there and ignore steam

the only thing i'm really worried about are those "exclusives" they mentioned .... i just love when games on PC are being locked down to a particular launcher "just because" ... much pro-consumer, so competition

 

[RionaaM]

No idea about its potential success, but it's clear this is just another store that isn't willing to compete with Steam on features and catalog. As a consumer, it doesn't do a single thing for me.

 

[lashman]

No idea about its potential success, but it's clear this is just another store that isn't willing to compete with Steam on features and catalog. As a consumer, it doesn't do a single thing for me.

precisely

 

[ramoisdead]

For one, this is what developers wanted: both indie and huge studios. They wanted a bigger cut for their games and Epic is willing to help them with that. However as of late, all you've been hearing from developers ever since Steam announced their restructuring of how they will dish out profits to publishers/developers is "why am I not included", "this isn't helping out one man developers who put out their hard effort game", or "Steam is selling out to corporate big wigs". Yet, they don't think about what would the consumer want. I mean you have other store fronts that would help out developers like itch.io however I guess that's not enough.

I'm all for developers to get more piece of the pie and maybe with this, Steam can answer back with something. However if you're a developer who vouches for what Epic is doing yet knowing full well what little features they will support for both the developer and consumer, then you're gonna still be struggling to hit it big like you dreamed of.

 

[lashman]

yeah, exactly ... i mean, obviously, wanting to get more money from each sale is understandable etc. ... but maybe, you know, also think about your customers once in a while ... like, what would be better for them ... not just "me, me, me, me"

 

[Eriugam]

Just cannot see how this is going to work for Epic down the line. Too many digital store fronts already exist and offer similar features etc.

Unless we are going to see Epic release exclusive high quality games on the store, no one's really going to use it?

 

[lashman]

Just cannot see how this is going to work for Epic down the line. Too many digital store fronts already exist and offer similar features etc.

Unless we are going to see Epic release exclusive high quality games on the store, no one's really going to use it?

they already said they'll start doing "store exclusives" (basically paying devs to only have their game on their store and nowhere else)

 

[Deku]

they already said they'll start doing "store exclusives" (basically paying devs to only have their game on their store and nowhere else)

I wonder if that will work in long term. We have seen many games that were exclusive in other stores than Steam that ended up being on Steam later

 

[lashman]

I wonder if that will work in long term. We have seen many games that were exclusive in other stores than Steam that ended up being on Steam later

who knows ... i guess it all depends on the contract

 

[Ascheroth]

My immediate reaction is indifference. Doesn't really sound like it wants to compete on a feature level with Steam, so as I consumer it's already meh.
Some free games for a year isn't exactly enough to get people on board. (Personally I have quite a few Twitch Prime games but have never played them because I prefer Steam, lol).
Buying exclusives sucks and makes me want to support them not at all.
I'm kind of indifferent towards funding actual exclusives. Like, I don't really like the concept of exclusives, but I can understand it when a platform owner pumps in some moneys to get exclusives made, because those games probably wouldn't exist otherwise, so they can do what they want with them. Though I don't particularly like it from a consumer-perspective, but it is what it is.

 

[Eriugam]

they already said they'll start doing "store exclusives" (basically paying devs to only have their game on their store and nowhere else)

Risky move for the developer(s), alienating potential customers for a bit of extra cash..

On an open platform..

 

[Alexandros]

That's cool and all but I don't trust Epic and trust is the number one issue when deciding where to give my long-term business too. Epic abandoned PC gaming while Valve stuck with it, worked on it and improved it. Operating a PC games store is a side business for Epic while it is Valve's bread and butter. Maybe after ten years, if their store is still around.

 

[Durante]

On the one hand Epic has done a lot of great things, technically, with UE4, and Sweeney's stance on UWP is on point.

On the other hand, they already say they are moneyhatting exclusives and their feature-set is woefully incomplete. And they are a publicly traded company.

In my books, better than Windows store, potentially better than other publisher stores, not even close to something I'd choose to use over Steam (or GoG for that matter).

 

[Anteater]

I go where cheap games are personally unless the launcher is really trash tier lol

For (timed) exclusives I'm against it in principle, but ultimately I really don't care that much because I always can just wait, if Epic actually fund development of new games with their money to push their storefront/platform, then that's good although I doubt they'd do that. This news barely affect me that much and we'll see how it goes and how much effort Epic will put into this.

 

[lashman]

That's cool and all but I don't trust Epic and trust is the number one issue when deciding where to give my long-term business too. Epic abandoned PC gaming while Valve stuck with it, worked on it and improved it. Operating a PC games store is a side business for Epic while it is Valve's bread and butter. Maybe after ten years, if their store is still around.

yeah, pretty much this ... they fucked off to consoles the first chance they got (with Gears) ... doesn't exactly scream "trust"

And they are a publicly traded company.

yeah, that's pretty much exactly what i said earlier:

at least Volvo has a CHOICE ... they can choose to do good stuff for the consumers and/or developers

Epic doesn't - they're publicly traded ... their clients aren't the gamers OR the devs ... their clients are their shareholders (especially Tencent which already owns like 40% of them), so they'll do whatever makes them more money

 

[Lain]

For one, this is what developers wanted: both indie and huge studios. They wanted a bigger cut for their games and Epic is willing to help them with that. However as of late, all you've been hearing from developers ever since Steam announced their restructuring of how they will dish out profits to publishers/developers is "why am I not included", "this isn't helping out one man developers who put out their hard effort game", or "Steam is selling out to corporate big wigs". Yet, they don't think about what would the consumer want. I mean you have other store fronts that would help out developers like itch.io however I guess that's not enough.

I'm all for developers to get more piece of the pie and maybe with this, Steam can answer back with something. However if you're a developer who vouches for what Epic is doing yet knowing full well what little features they will support for both the developer and consumer, then you're gonna still be struggling to hit it big like you dreamed of.

I do wonder, will the Epic store even do much for the little guy? The indie developer going at it alone, or the small group of 2-10 people? The people that would have never gotten on Steam prior to Steam opening up?
The Epic store is going to feature curation, right? In which case I'd expect the more niche or weird indie titles not making the cut.
It almost feels like the excitement from some developers in regard to this new store simply comes from the possibility of getting back 88% instead of 70%, without even knowing if they'd be allowed on the store with their wares or getting to see what kind of API support they'll get to help them implement features easily.

Developers want a bigger cut for their work (understandable), consumers want to pay less for the products they buy (understandable) and both want to be catered to with features and support. I'm not so sure that a featureless new digital storefront is what will end up pleasing both sides. Maybe developers know something I don't, since making games is their job (although I'd argue that too many devs might know how to make games, but they truly don't know how to sell them afterward), so I'll wait to see what happens when this store releases. I can't lie though, interest on my side to use this new store when it drops is non-existent for now.

 

[lashman]

yeah, exactly ... i have to say - for me, as a consumer, there is very little (if any) reason to use anything beyond steam

for all those launchers the only reason so far seems to be "well, you can only play our games if you use our launcher" ... which is, like ... not a great reason, you know ... i already have more games than i'll EVER be able to play and honestly if not installing 50 additional bare-bones launchers mean i'll miss out on a few games here and there (because let's face it - most indies are on steam sooner or later .... same for a good chunk of AAAs) - i'm absolutely fine with that ... and AAA's recent transition to GaaS only makes it SO MUCH easier for me

 

[Kvik]

Unlike Steam the Epic Games Store won't have separate forums for each game or any forums at all. User feedback will be handled via individual reports directly to devs.

I rather dislike this. Community support is one of the things that I rely on to fix broken games. To rely on the mercy of Epic at a timeframe of their own choosing doesn't sound ideal, to me.

 

[uraizen]

Risky move for the developer(s), alienating potential customers for a bit of extra cash..

On an open platform..

Seems to be enough to entice developers to make discord exclusive games. The Sinner devs (lol) said that the deal was good enough to delay the game for 90 days on Steam. If we're talking about developers outside of indies then you're right.

 

[Hektor]

Fuck this piece of shit storefront, i hope every moneyhatted exclusive bombs as hard as possible.

 

[Ganado]

Fuck this piece of shit storefront, i hope every moneyhatted exclusive bombs as hard as possible.

I'm more in the camp of I hope for their sake it was worth it because I'm not gonna buy anything there.

 

[Lain]

I decided to launch the Epic Games Launcher I installed some year ago for Shadow Complex today to take a look at the store (and redeem free games, since I thought they were already live, silly me).
The client is still as bad as ever and the store seems to lack even the most basic of functionalities expected from a store. I'm kinda in disbelief. Did they really spend all the budget just to pull games from Steam and have them as Epic Store exclusives?

 

[Deku]

How does one get the free games? Subnautica seems nice to have even if it's on another store

 

[lashman]

Did they really spend all the budget just to pull games from Steam and have them as Epic Store exclusives?

sure seems like it

 

[bobnowhere]

How does one get the free games? Subnautica seems nice to have even if it's on another store

14th of December

 

[Deepo]

A bit reactionary maybe, but I really think Tim Sweeney should STFU about walled gardens and such now.

 

[Ganado]

How do refunds work on the Epic Games store?
We will offer two no-questions-asked refunds per player within two weeks of purchase.

Just two? Thanks?

 

[Alexandros]

I won't install it even for the free games. The line has to be drawn somewhere. Moneyhatting indie devs is that line for me.

 

[Ascheroth]

The store page is mind-boggling.
It's a single page plastered full with huge tiles with not even a search function. This will be unusable after a few dozen games. Hell, it doesn't even have 20 yet and feels cumbersome.

 

[Dinjoralo]

Honestly, looking at a lot of the things they're touting, like no relevant games on a games store page, or the lack of refunds and reviews, it feels like they're holding the consumer in outright contempt and catering to less scrupulous developers.

 

[freshVeggie]

Wow, looks like Valve learned from Epic's ambitions and changed the profit cuts because of them.
Not sure how much Epic is willing to invest in both exclusives and their store feature set. It's gonna take a huuuuge investment to simply become on par with Steam.
Unlike Origin or Uplay, it almost sounds like Epic is trying to replace Steam. Will be interesting to see how it pans out and at what point all the fragmentation will lead to userbase punishing companies.

Free games are nice tho.

 

[RionaaM]

I won't install it even for the free games. The line has to be drawn somewhere. Moneyhatting indie devs is that line for me.

Same here. The only thing Epic is doing with their store that Valve isn't is paying devs to avoid other stores and clients, which screws me over since I prefer what Steam offers to me.

I also don't plan on buying those games even if they end up being released on Steam in the future. They don't want my money now, I won't want their game then. Fuck that noise.

 

[Dinjoralo]

Same here. The only thing Epic is doing with their store that Valve isn't is paying devs to avoid other stores and clients, which screws me over since I prefer what Steam offers to me.

I also don't plan on buying those games even if they end up being released on Steam in the future. They don't want my money now, I won't want their game then. Fuck that noise.

I intend to get the free games, and maybe something like Journey, but that's it. Their strategy is to try to get people to use it as their de facto store by way of these incentives, but I don't think it will work.

 

[RionaaM]

I intend to get the free games, and maybe something like Journey, but that's it. Their strategy is to try to get people to use it as their de facto store by way of these incentives, but I don't think it will work.

I already own Journey on PS3. It's a fantastic game, and I would have double-dipped on PC, but now I won't. I refuse to support these awful practices.

 

[Deepo]

Look at this shit:

Epic Games is bringing a console war to your PC, and its target is Steam

LOOK AT THIS SHIT

 

[brokenswiftie]

All the money hats I saw in the TGA show is worrying me

 

[Ganado]

Just saw that World War Z, a game that got announced last year for Steam is also now exclusive to Epic Games Launcher,