Epic Games has released the press release Foundation of a »new, cross-platform publishing initiative« announced. After Epic primarily targeted Steam with the Epic Games Store in 2019, the US company is now also attacking major publishers such as EA, Activision and Co.
Be the first developer studios under the Epic Games label Gen design (The Last Guardian), Playdead (Inside, Limbo) and Remedy Entertainment (Control, Max Payne) contracted.
Epic wants to focus on fairness
As with the Epic Store, Epic explains that it wants to focus primarily on fair conditions for the developers:
- The studios are supposed to »Complete freedom of design and ownership«
- Epic wants up to 100 percent of development costs take over, i.e. developer salaries, quality assurance, localization and marketing.
- Epic promises at least one to its partners 50-50 profit sharingas soon as the development costs are paid off.
Epic boss Tim Sweeney commented on the new publishing initiative as follows:
"We are developing a publishing model that we have always wanted when working with publishers. GEN DESIGN, Remedy and Playdead are among the most innovative and talented studios in the industry and have clear ideas for their next games."
Hector Sanchez, head of Epic Games Publishing, added: "The developers will have complete freedom of design, while Epic will take care of project financing and services."
Comment from GameStar editor-in-chief Heiko Klinge
It is very possible that some publisher representatives are crying quietly in their pillows. Because what Epic offers with its publishing initiative is a dream for many developer studios that only very few publishers can keep up with. Instead of 20 or 30%, the studios suddenly receive 50% of the proceeds. Instead of giving up their trademark rights and creative freedom, they should now be allowed to keep both.
Sure: Epic can only offer these conditions because, unlike most other publishers, they hardly have any additional costs. Neither do they have to physically bring their titles into the shops, nor do they have to share a share in online stores such as Steam or … well … Epic. As a result, Epic is now positioning itself at almost every point in the game value chain – starting with production with the Unreal Engine, financing and marketing with Epic Publishing, right up to sales with the Epic Store.
Yes, of course not all studios will immediately get an offer from Epic. And yes, brick-and-mortar retail is still too important that AAA blockbusters can easily do without it. But those who underestimate Epic with their publishing initiative will soon no longer just cry quietly in the pillow. It's pretty loud.
33:59
One year of Epic Games Store – was it really that bad?
No comment function?
Due to the high level of emotionality associated with reports about the Epic Store and many discussions repeating, we have moved the comments into a collective thread.Collecting thread: Exclusive to the Epic store