Epic Games Store has made it simpler for game developers to release their games on the platform. The company has launched a much-awaited self-publishing tool that allows game developers to release their games through its storefront with ease. However, developers will have to pay $100 per title and fulfill certain requirements to be eligible for publishing on the Epic Games Store. With this move, Epic has eliminated the need for hand-curation of the game selection, making it easier for any game developer to release their games on the platform.
When self-publishing a game, it is important to adhere to certain guidelines to ensure that the game is acceptable for public release. These guidelines include avoiding any content that is discriminatory, pornographic, or illegal in nature. Additionally, if the game includes online play, it must support crossplay across all PC stores and include Epic Games Store achievements if achievements are offered in other PC stores.
To ensure that customers receive what they expect from the game, releases must meet a certain baseline quality level that matches the description provided to customers. In countries where it is required, age ratings must also be provided for free.
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Overall, self-published games must meet a high standard to ensure they are suitable for public release. This includes adhering to content guidelines, ensuring crossplay and achievement compatibility, meeting a baseline quality level, and providing age ratings where required. By following these guidelines, self-published game developers can help ensure that their games are successful and well-received by the public.
The Epic Games Store is known for offering developers a higher cut of revenue compared to its main rival, Steam. The company takes a modest 12 percent cut, while Steam can take up to 30 percent depending on sales figures. Additionally, Epic does not demand a portion of in-app purchases made using non-Epic payment systems. This revenue-sharing model is potentially more lucrative for developers, particularly for small studios that want to reach a large audience without giving up a large portion of their revenue.
The Epic Games Store’s approach to revenue sharing is a significant departure from the industry standard. Historically, game developers have had to pay a substantial percentage of their revenue to digital storefronts like Steam, which can take up to 30 percent of sales. This has been a significant issue for smaller studios, who have struggled to make ends meet while still trying to reach a broad audience.
The Epic Games Store’s revenue-sharing model has been designed to be more developer-friendly. By taking a smaller cut of revenue, Epic is making it easier for smaller studios to make a profit while still reaching a broad audience. This approach is particularly beneficial for developers who rely on in-app purchases, as Epic does not demand a portion of these transactions made using non-Epic payment systems.
Overall, the Epic Games Store’s revenue-sharing model is a game-changer for the gaming industry. It offers developers a more lucrative way to distribute their games while still reaching a broad audience. Additionally, it demonstrates that there are alternative ways to structure revenue-sharing models in the gaming industry that can benefit both developers and players.
Epic Games Store is set to launch a new self-publishing feature, which is expected to reduce barriers to entry for independent developers who wish to sell their games on the platform. The new feature was first tested in August 2021, and it was originally expected to debut in 2022. However, due to the complexities of software development, the feature was delayed until now.
Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney, noted that the self-publishing feature is designed to make it easier for developers to bring their games to the store. While the Epic Games store currently has over 230 million users, it is still far behind Steam, which boasts 69 million daily active users in 2021.
In comparison to Steam, Epic Games Store’s requirements are more stringent, with a focus on prohibiting illegal content and “trolling” attempts. However, the self-publishing feature is expected to attract more developers to the platform, which could lead to a surge in the store’s catalog.
Despite the challenges that come with software development, Epic Games Store is confident that the self-publishing feature will provide developers with greater flexibility and opportunities to sell their games. This move is likely to make the platform more competitive in the gaming market and increase its user base.
