Epic Games, the powerhouse behind the widely popular Fortnite and the Epic Games Store, recently unveiled a program aimed at enticing game publishers and developers to bring their existing game catalog to the Epic Games Store. This initiative, aptly named Now on Epic, offers an attractive proposition to those looking to expand their reach and potentially increase revenue through this growing digital platform.
Under the terms of the Now on Epic program, games that were initially released on another store or subscription service before the end of the current month can be integrated into the Epic Games Store. What makes this offer particularly enticing for developers and publishers is the fact that they will enjoy 100% of the revenue generated from these titles for the first six months after their introduction to the Epic Games Store. This is a substantial departure from the industry norm, where platforms typically take a percentage of the revenue from game sales right from the start.
After the initial six-month period, the revenue-sharing model will revert to the standard 88-12% split that is enjoyed by all games hosted on the Epic Games Store. This is still a competitive deal for developers, as it offers them a more favorable revenue share compared to many other platforms.
For developers to take advantage of this opportunity, they must create an Epic Games developer account and opt-in to the Now on Epic program. However, there are a few additional conditions to be aware of:
- Developers must commit to releasing a minimum of three products that were already available on another third-party PC storefront or part of a third-party subscription service before October 31, 2023.
- All participating products must be launched on the Epic Games Store by June 30, 2025.
- Enrollments for the program will be accepted until December 31, 2024.
This initiative builds on a similar program called “Epic First Run” announced earlier this year. The key distinction lies in the focus of Now on Epic, which is primarily geared towards older catalog games.
Epic Games, despite some financial challenges that resulted in recent layoffs, remains committed to its vision of providing an alternative store for PC gamers. This includes the ongoing legal battles against tech giants Apple and Google in hopes of eventually expanding its reach to iOS and Android mobile devices. Whether programs like Now on Epic will succeed in luring developers remains to be seen, but they clearly reflect Epic’s determination to carve out a significant presence in the digital gaming distribution market.
As Now on Epic begins to take shape, it offers a promising opportunity for game publishers and developers to tap into the growing user base of the Epic Games Store and potentially boost their earnings by providing a fresh avenue for their older titles. It will be intriguing to observe how this initiative shapes the landscape of digital game distribution in the coming months and years.