Epic Games Store gains ground with free titles and lower developer fees

Epic Games Store is pushing to take a bigger slice of the PC gaming market. The platform now holds around 12–15% of monthly active players, up from under 5% five years ago. Recent changes to its pricing model and a focus on user experience aim to challenge Steam's long-standing dominance.

Epic's growth has been driven by a mix of free games, exclusive releases, and developer-friendly policies. Since 2021, the store has given away over 200 free titles, drawing in more than 240 million accounts. Major AAA exclusives and a reduced 12% revenue cut for developers after the first $1 million in sales have also helped.

The platform's share of monthly active PC gamers now sits at 35–40%, yet its revenue share remains low—just 5–8% of the total market. To close this gap, Epic plans to improve its features and user experience over the next two years. The company will also keep funding its weekly free games programme, with an annual budget of $20–30 million.

Steve Allison, head of Epic Games Store, has stressed that the goal is not to replace Steam but to coexist. Over the past three years, Epic has strengthened its developer tools, leading to a rise in major new releases—from 40% to 70% of titles launching on the platform. The company now aims for 30% of PC gaming revenue, up from its current share.

Epic's strategy combines free games, lower fees for developers, and better platform features. The store's user base has grown steadily, though revenue still lags behind Steam. With ongoing investments and a clearer focus on player engagement, the company expects to narrow the gap in the coming years.