Epic Games unveiled Epic First Run and Now On Epic programs

In an endeavor to contest Steam’s market dominance, Epic Games previously introduced a scheme named “Epic First Run”, aspiring to host a greater selection of exclusive titles on its platform. The company has officially unveiled “Epic First Run”, an initiative tailored for the Epic Games Store that allows publishers and developers to opt-in for exclusivity, with registrations open through the self-publishing process on the Epic Developer portal.

Furthermore, Epic Games has also launched a program titled “Now On Epic”, targeting third-party developers and publishers who have previously released products, encouraging them to feature these offerings on the Epic Games Store.

According to Epic Games, the “Epic First Run” grants participants the privilege of receiving up to 100% of the revenues from eligible products featured on the Epic Games Store for the first six months. Post this period, the applicable products will revert to the standard revenue-sharing model of the Epic Games Store, where the game developers receive 88%, and Epic Games retains the residual 12%—a structure consistent with “Epic First Run”.

Currently, the Epic Games Store boasts an expansive and rapidly expanding global user base, encompassing over 230 million players and 68 million monthly active users. Epic Games asserts that featuring past products on the Epic Games Store not only amplifies their visibility to a broader audience but also ensures that gamers consistently discover their sought-after products. Additionally, publishers can capitalize on serial promotional opportunities to optimize their revenues. Those interested in this scheme must enroll by December 31, 2024.

Participants in this initiative are mandated to have at least three products, which were released on third-party PC stores (or included within third-party subscription services) before October 31, 2023, available on the Epic Games Store. Should a participant’s product count fall short of this threshold, they are required to list all their current products on the platform. All products engaged in the program must be released by June 30, 2025, although they needn’t simultaneously debut on the Epic Games Store.