Epic Games
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About Epic Games
Epic Games is an American video game and software company founded in 1991 by Tim Sweeney, best known for Fortnite, Unreal Engine, and the Epic Games Store. Fortnite became a cultural phenomenon after launching Battle Royale mode in 2017, generating over $9 billion in a single year (2018-2019) at its peak and accumulating 350+ million registered accounts. Epic Games Store, launched in 2018, disrupts Steam by offering developers an 88% revenue share (vs Valve's 70%) and gives users free premium games weekly — a catalog that has included titles worth $4,000+ in cumulative retail value. Unreal Engine (free for developers until a $1M revenue threshold) powers games including Fortnite, PUBG, and hundreds of indie titles, plus film/TV productions via Unreal Engine virtual production. Epic's business was valued at $32 billion in 2022, though the company laid off 16% of its workforce in 2023 as Fortnite revenue normalized post-pandemic. Epic sued Apple and Google over App Store payment monopolies in landmark antitrust cases, winning a partial victory with Apple in 2023 requiring payment option disclosure. The company is backed by Sony, Tencent (40% stake), and others.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Epic Games Store free games work?
Epic Games Store gives away 1-2 premium PC games for free every week, permanently. Once you claim a free game during its promotion window, it stays in your library forever — no subscription required. Notable free games have included GTA V, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and Borderlands 3. The cumulative value of free games claimed since 2018 exceeds $4,000 for active users. Games are available Thursday at 11AM ET for approximately one week.
Epic Games Store vs Steam: which is better for developers?
Epic's 88/12 revenue split is significantly more favorable to developers than Steam's 70/30 (which improves to 75/25 and 80/20 for high earners). However, Steam's 75% market share, discoverability features, and community tools (reviews, Workshop, Steamworks) mean games typically sell more copies on Steam even with the higher cut. Most developers release on both platforms.
Is Fortnite still popular in 2024?
Yes — Fortnite remains one of the most-played games globally. The Chapter 5 era and LEGO Fortnite collaboration attracted new players, and the original Chapter 1 map return in 2023 broke concurrent player records with 44 million players. While peak revenue has declined from 2018-2019 highs, Fortnite continues generating billions annually and remains dominant in the battle royale genre with a particularly strong 13-24 demographic.
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Epic Games vs Steam
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