The Epic Games Store is expanding its reach to attract new users by offering free games, a strategy that has been successful on PC and is now being extended to mobile platforms. The store plans to launch a free games program in Q4 along with the introduction of third-party apps, with the goal of scaling quickly and providing benefits to both players and developers.
Epic aims to have between 10 and 50 third-party applications available on its mobile store by the holiday season, with games like Ark: Ultimate Mobile Edition already confirmed. The main challenge in this expansion is implementing a payment solution, which may cause some delays in the release of new apps.
In addition to free games, Epic is offering developers a reduced revenue cut compared to Apple and Google, making it a more attractive platform for self-publishing. The standard revenue cut is 12.5 percent, but it can be further reduced to 3.5 percent for Unreal Engine games launching exclusively on the Epic Store. Developers who agree to release their games exclusively on Epic can even have their revenue cut waived entirely for the first six months.
Despite its previous financial struggles, Epic is optimistic about the future success of its mobile store. The company has invested heavily in the Epic Games Store, and while it has not yet turned a profit, it is hoping that the expansion to mobile platforms will change that. CEO Tim Sweeney recently celebrated the success of Fortnite and the Epic Games Store, but did not provide specific financial details.
The decision to launch a mobile version of the store was prompted by new EU regulations requiring Apple to allow alternate marketplaces on its devices. The Epic Games Store launched for iOS in Europe and Android devices worldwide earlier this year, with plans to expand to the UK in the future. Epic has also been involved in legal battles with competitors like Samsung and Google over issues related to app installation.
Overall, the Epic Games Store is making bold moves to attract new users and compete with established digital storefronts. By offering free games, a developer-friendly revenue model, and a focus on self-publishing, Epic is positioning itself as a major player in the mobile gaming market. It remains to be seen how successful these strategies will be, but Epic is clearly committed to growth and innovation in the industry.
