The future of the Epic Games Store appears challenging, as industry expert Emmanuel Rosier suggests that Epic’s attempts to overhaul its game launcher might not be sufficient to compete with Steam’s dominant market position. Rosier, a director of market intelligence at Newzoo, articulated his views during a conversation with PC Gamer.
Epic’s Struggles Against Steam’s Dominance
Rosier highlighted that despite Epic’s initiatives such as offering free games to attract users, these strategies have not secured enduring engagement. He remarked that giving away free games often benefits sales on Steam, as players prefer not to fragment their game collections across multiple platforms. “I don’t really see how they can turn that around because Steam has become so inevitable,” Rosier commented, noting that users often claim free games without actually playing them.
The Widening Competitive Gap
While assessing Epic’s battle within the industry, Rosier indicated that their attempts to conquer multiple fronts – including competition against Steam, Apple, and Google Play – have spread their resources thin. “They try to win everywhere,” he remarked, implying that this broad strategy may have led to diminished focus and effectiveness.
Fortnite Remains a Beacon of Hope
Despite these challenges, Rosier views Epic’s prospects as a game developer more hopefully, particularly due to their ongoing success with Fortnite. He praised the game’s current season, which incorporates crossover cosmetics from titles like Sonic the Hedgehog, Pac-Man, Kingdom Hearts, and Persona 5. “They are doing everything they can,” Rosier stated about Fortnite, noting its improved state compared to previous periods.
Future Collaborations on the Horizon
Amidst these struggles, there are positive developments for Epic. Steve Allison from Epic Games had earlier mentioned Xbox’s openness to incorporating Epic’s storefront on its hardware, suggesting a potential new avenue for growth. However, Rosier’s overall outlook on Epic’s ability to rival Steam as a prominent digital storefront remains skeptical.
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.