The battle between digital game stores is heating up! Epic Games Store, which launched in 2018, has experienced explosive growth and is now nearing 300 million users. While Steam has long been the dominant platform in the PC gaming market, Epic Games Store’s rapid rise is making waves in the industry.
So, what’s driving this massive growth? Can Epic Games Store truly challenge Steam’s dominance? Let’s dive into the details and explore the future of this gaming marketplace.
The Rapid Growth of Epic Games Store
Since its launch in December 2018, Epic Games Store has achieved remarkable growth. What started as a small storefront has quickly become a major player in the gaming industry.
Reached 100 million users in 2019.
Surpassed 194 million users in 2021.
Exceeded 270 million users by the end of 2023.
Expected to hit 300 million users in 2024!
This explosive growth is largely fueled by free game giveaways, developer-friendly policies, and exclusive game deals, making it a compelling alternative to Steam.
Why Is Epic Games Store So Popular?
Epic Games Store has employed several key strategies to attract gamers and developers. Here are the biggest factors behind its success:
1. Free Game Giveaways
Epic Games Store offers free games every week, drawing millions of players to the platform.
Blockbuster games like GTA V, Civilization VI, and Tomb Raider were given away, each time attracting huge spikes in new users.
In 2023 alone, over 100 games were offered for free, and the trend continues in 2024.
2. Better Revenue Share for Developers
Epic Games Store takes only a 12% cut, allowing developers to keep 88% of the revenue.
In comparison, Steam takes 30%, making Epic a much more attractive option for game studios.
This policy has encouraged indie and AAA developers to release their games on Epic Games Store.
3. Exclusive Game Deals
Some major games are exclusive to Epic Games Store, meaning they launch first before coming to Steam.
Titles like Borderlands 3, Alan Wake 2, and Hitman 3 were initially only available on Epic Games Store.
4. The Power of Fortnite and Unreal Engine
Epic Games owns Fortnite, one of the most played games in the world, integrating millions of players into the Epic ecosystem.
Unreal Engine, a leading game development tool, also pushes developers toward publishing on Epic Games Store rather than Steam.
Epic Games Store vs. Steam – A Competitive Analysis
Steam is currently the largest digital gaming store, with over 1 billion accounts and 120+ million active users per month. However, Epic Games Store is catching up quickly.
Can Epic Games Store Surpass Steam?
Even though Epic Games Store has seen massive growth, Steam still holds several key advantages:
Why Steam Is Still on Top:
A much larger game library (over 50,000 titles).
Better community features (reviews, discussions, achievements).
Steam Workshop allows mod support and player-created content.
Epic Games Store’s Advantages:
More free games and exclusive discounts.
Better revenue share, making it attractive for developers.
The Fortnite and Unreal Engine ecosystem, which continuously feeds players into the platform.
The Battle for PC Gaming Dominance Continues!
Epic Games Store’s approach to aggressive marketing, free games, and developer-friendly policies has helped it grow to nearly 300 million users in just a few years. While Steam remains the undisputed leader, Epic Games Store is closing the gap and pushing competition to new levels.
As the digital gaming market evolves, we might see an even bigger battle between these two platforms in the coming years.