The Epic Games Store (EGS) has become known for its generous free game giveaways, drawing numerous gamers to its platform. However, these giveaways have an unexpected side effect: they may drive sales on other platforms, particularly Steam. This was highlighted by Dave Oshry, CEO of New Blood, in a recent revelation regarding the impact of EGS promotions on game sales.
Significant Sales Spike for Blood West
Oshry reported that the distribution of the first-person shooter game Blood West as a free title on EGS during the holiday season led to a dramatic increase in its Steam sales. He stated, “Blood West was free on EGS over the holidays and sold like 200% more on Steam that day.” This substantial boost illustrates the influence of Epic’s giveaways on consumer behavior.
Development and Publishing Dynamics
- New Blood publishes Blood West on Steam.
- The game’s developers self-publish on the Epic Games Store.
- Developers retain 100% of the revenue from EGS giveaways and subsequent purchases.
Oshry emphasized that even though Epic might provide developers with a favorable revenue share, the absence of sales would render any financial advantage irrelevant. He noted, “Epic could give devs 100% of sales and it doesn’t mean sh*t if there’s no sales.”
Criticism of the Epic Games Store
Oshry is not alone in his critique of the Epic Games Store. Adrian Chmielarz, known for creating Painkiller and Witchfire, expressed similar concerns. He observed that EGS lacks community engagement features, such as user reviews and forums, which contribute to the appeal of Steam. “EGS is a shop, and Steam is a community,” Chmielarz remarked, underlining the emotional connection players have with Steam.
Future of Epic Games Store
Despite its shortcomings, the Epic Games Store continues to operate, largely supported by the popularity of Fortnite, which necessitates the use of the storefront. However, with Steam achieving record-breaking revenue and maintaining a robust user base, EGS faces challenges in making a significant impact in the gaming market.
