What Happened to Epic Games Store?
The Epic Games Store launched in December 2018 as a digital storefront challenging traditional revenue splits by offering developers an 88/12% share, later improving to 100% for the first $1 million in revenue. It has grown significantly through aggressive exclusive deals and a popular weekly free games program, expanding to Android and iOS (EU) in August 2024. As of mid-2026, the store is undergoing a major technical overhaul to improve performance and introduce long-requested community features, while also navigating the outcomes of its antitrust legal battles.
Quick Answer
The Epic Games Store continues to operate as a major PC digital storefront, having significantly grown its user base to 78 million monthly active users by December 2025 and achieving $1.16 billion in player spending in 2025. In 2026, Epic is focused on a substantial redesign of its launcher and storefront, aiming for faster load times and new features like user reviews and player profiles. The store also expanded to mobile platforms in 2024 and recently reached a settlement with Google and Samsung to ease restrictions on third-party app stores on Android.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Epic Games Store Launches
Epic Games officially launched its digital storefront during The Game Awards, promising an 88/12% revenue split for developers to challenge Steam's 70/30% model.
Metro Exodus Exclusivity Controversy
Metro Exodus was abruptly pulled from Steam pre-orders to become an Epic Games Store exclusive, sparking significant debate and criticism from PC gamers regarding exclusivity deals.
Weekly Free Games Program Intensifies
Epic Games increased its free game offerings from bi-weekly to weekly, a strategy that significantly boosted user acquisition and engagement on the platform.
Epic First Run Program Announced
Epic introduced the 'Epic First Run' program, offering developers 100% net revenue for the first six months of exclusivity on the Epic Games Store.
Mobile Store Launches on Android and iOS (EU)
The Epic Games Store expanded to mobile platforms, launching worldwide on Android and for iOS users within the European Union, marking a direct challenge to existing mobile app store policies.
2024 Year in Review Released
Epic Games released its 2024 Year in Review, reporting 295 million PC users and $1.09 billion in total spending on the store, with 1,100 new games added to the catalog.
New Revenue Share Model (100% for first $1M) Announced
Epic announced an updated revenue share model, allowing developers to keep 100% of the first $1 million in net revenue per product per year, effective June 1, 2025.
2025 Year in Review Released
The 2025 Year in Review highlighted record growth, including 78 million monthly active users in December 2025 and $1.16 billion in total player spending, with third-party game spending up 57% to $400 million.
EGS Boss Acknowledges Launcher Issues, Promises Overhaul
An Epic Games Store boss publicly admitted that the launcher 'sucks' but promised significant improvements and a complete overhaul of the platform in 2026.
Major Storefront Redesign Roadmap Revealed
At Unreal Fest, Epic Games unveiled a roadmap for a major redesign of the Epic Games Store launcher and storefront, promising 5x faster boot times, user reviews, player profiles, and improved search and discovery.
Epic Games Store Touts 2026 Growth
During the State of Unreal keynote, Epic reported that spending on third-party games in the Epic Games Store was up 40% year-over-year in the first four months of 2026, crediting initiatives like Epic First Run.
Final Free Games for August 2026 Announced
The Epic Games Store announced its final free games for August 2026, Rival Stars Horse Racing: Desktop Edition and a returning title, continuing its long-standing program of weekly giveaways.
Settlement with Google/Samsung on Android App Store Barriers
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced at Unreal Fest Seoul 2026 that Epic has settled its antitrust disputes with Google and Samsung, leading to changes that will ease the operation of the Epic Games Store on Android devices by the end of 2026.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Epic Games Store (EGS) was launched by Epic Games in December 2018 with the explicit goal of disrupting the PC digital distribution market, primarily dominated by Valve's Steam. Its core strategy revolved around offering developers a significantly more favorable revenue share of 88/12% (developer/Epic), compared to Steam's long-standing 70/30% split. This aggressive approach, coupled with securing numerous timed exclusive titles and a consistent program of weekly free games, quickly garnered attention and a substantial user base.
Initially, the EGS faced criticism for a perceived lack of features compared to its more mature competitors, such as user reviews, forums, and a robust shopping cart. However, Epic Games maintained its focus on developer incentives and player acquisition through free titles. The success of its flagship game, Fortnite, provided Epic with the financial leverage to sustain these costly initiatives, including covering the costs of exclusivity deals and free game giveaways. The store's user base steadily grew, reaching 295 million PC users in 2024.
A significant turning point came in August 2024 with the launch of the Epic Games Store on mobile devices, available worldwide on Android and for European users on iOS. This expansion marked Epic's direct challenge to the mobile app store duopoly of Apple and Google, a move that was deeply intertwined with Epic's ongoing antitrust lawsuits against both tech giants. In May 2025, Epic further enhanced its developer terms, announcing that developers would keep 100% of the first $1 million in net revenue per product per year, before the 88/12% split takes effect.
The year 2025 proved to be a record-breaking year for the EGS, with player spending on third-party PC games increasing by 57% to an all-time high of $400 million. Total player spending on the store reached $1.16 billion, a 6% increase from 2024. The platform also achieved a record 78 million monthly active users (MAU) in December 2025. Despite this growth, the Epic Games Store still holds a smaller market share in terms of monetized transactions compared to Steam, estimated at around 8% of PC game downloads in 2025.
As of August 2026, the Epic Games Store is undergoing a significant transformation. Following an admission by an Epic Games Store boss in February 2026 that the launcher "sucks," a comprehensive roadmap for a major storefront and launcher redesign was revealed at Unreal Fest in June 2026. These improvements aim to dramatically enhance performance with faster boot times, improve browsing, and introduce long-requested community features such as user-written reviews, player profiles, and better library management. Furthermore, Epic Games announced in August 2026 that it had reached a settlement with Google and Samsung, leading to changes in Android that will make it easier for the Epic Games Store to operate on their devices by the end of 2026. However, the legal battle with Apple regarding app store policies continues to escalate, reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. The free games program remains active, with new titles offered weekly in August 2026.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Epic Games Store made different choices?