Epic has poured significant resources into building a PC storefront that, if one is generous, can be described as merely “functional.” Yet the company remains committed to the Epic Games Store, unveiling an ambitious roadmap that echoes many of the familiar features found in Valve’s Steam platform.
During its Unreal Fest event in Chicago on June 18, the creators behind Fortnite outlined the future of their seven‑year‑old storefront, announcing a major redesign and a suite of new capabilities that have, surprisingly, been absent from EGS to date. Reddit user ImAnthlon captured screenshots from the presentation, highlighting several “Up First” items slated for the next 12 months.
Among the promised additions are written user reviews, player profiles (a feature still missing), enhanced discovery tools, publisher coupons, refined search functionality, and a public release of a revamped “Version 2” of the Epic Games launcher and store. Epic also plans to introduce third‑party community forums, new API tools, universal controller support, and improved notifications and social discovery.
While these developments sound promising, they also raise questions about the pace at which Epic has implemented features that Valve has offered for years. The integration of AI into the store and its application in development also remain areas of uncertainty, leaving some fans unsure about the direction and uniqueness of Epic’s future.
In 2021, Epic Games’ chief executive, Tim Sweeney, publicly disclosed that the Epic Games Store had suffered losses exceeding $300 million. He framed this shortfall as a calculated sacrifice—an integral part of a “fantastic plan” designed to lay the groundwork for a robust, long‑term marketplace that could rival the industry’s dominant player, Valve’s Steam.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What new features is Epic Games Store adding to compete with Steam?
Epic announced a 12‑month roadmap that will add user‑written reviews, player profiles, enhanced discovery tools, publisher coupons, refined search, a revamped Version 2 of the Epic Games launcher and store, third‑party community forums, new API tools, universal controller support, improved notifications, and social discovery features.
When can players expect these new features to be available?
Epic said the major redesign and the new features will roll out over the next 12 months, with the revamped launcher and store (Version 2) slated for release within that period, though exact dates have not yet been announced.
How will these changes affect Epic’s position against Steam?
By adopting many of Steam’s long‑established features, Epic aims to attract users who are accustomed to Steam’s robust ecosystem. The late arrival of these capabilities may limit differentiation, but it could also broaden Epic’s user base and spark further innovation in the PC storefront market.
News Source: Kotaku
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