Developers on Steam might want to reconsider where they’re taking their games, as Epic Games has introduced two groundbreaking initiatives aimed at devs and publishers that could make a difference in their profits.
With the launch of Epic First Run and the Now On Epic program, the company is offering exciting incentives to lure developers away from competing platforms. If there’s a huge uptick in games released exclusively on Epic, this is probably why.
EGS vs. Steam: Is This a New Era for PC Gaming?
In a recent announcement, Epic unveiled two major initiatives that could dethrone Steam as the leading PC gaming platform.
The first, known as Epic First Run, is an exclusivity program aimed at third-party developers and publishers on EGS. Essentially, it offers developers the option to release their games exclusively on the Epic platform. While this move alone isn’t enough to drive developers away from other platforms, in conjunction with the next one, it could shake things up.
The second initiative, dubbed Now On Epic, is a back catalog incentive program designed to entice developers to bring their previously released games to EGS.
During the initial six months on EGS, participating developers and publishers can potentially boost their net revenue share from 88% to 100%. After six months, the revenue split will be 88/12, as per Epic’s usual standards. Steam’s revenue share model is set at 70/30, a much steeper cut.
Valve’s platform has been the number-one go-to for PC gaming for a long time. Epic’s decision to come out with these initiatives could shake up the hierarchy, should developers bite. Offering a more generous profit split is an interesting move, and it won’t be long till we see the results.
How to Participate in Epic’s New Initiative
To participate in the Now On Epic program, developers must commit to releasing a minimum of three products that were previously available on another third-party PC storefront before October 31, 2023. If you’ve released less than three products, all must be moved to Epic.
You have until December 31, 2024, to enroll in the program, and all the eligible products must launch on the Epic Games Store by June 30, 2025.
The program is open to developers and publishers with registered Epic Games developer accounts. Signing up for the Now On Epic program is relatively straightforward. Developers can register through the Epic Games Store Developer Community or contact their Epic Games Store account manager directly.
Epic has streamlined the publishing process with the introduction of self-service publishing tools in March of this year. Developers can register, set up, test, and distribute their products directly through the Epic Developer Portal.
What do you think about Epic’s new initiatives? Are they enough to lure developers away from Steam, or do you think Epic has a lot more to do to catch up? Let us know in the comments below!
