In response to the pessimistic prediction by Newzoo experts that "the Epic Games Store (EGS) may not be able to turn things around," Epic Games Store President Martin Keely recently struck back, emphasizing that the store's data performance tells a "very different story" and stating that its momentum will further accelerate with the launch of the new launcher this year.
This debate stems from a report by PC Gamer. Emmanuel Rosier, Director of Market Intelligence at Newzoo, described EGS as a bare-bones Steam alternative when evaluating its current status, believing that users merely log in weekly to claim free games, even "claiming them and leaving without playing." Regarding EGS's upcoming new launcher update, which claims to be five times faster, Rosier evaluated it as "too little, too late," arguing that this improvement should have been available at launch.
Keely provided PC Gamer with a data statement directly refuting the aforementioned view: "The data tells a very different story. In 2025, player engagement with third-party games on the Epic Games Store reached a record 2.78 billion hours, and player spending on third-party games grew by 57%, hitting a historic high of $400 million. With the improved launcher launching this year, this momentum will only accelerate further."
Since its launch in 2018, the Epic Games Store has accumulated a large user base by offering free games weekly (some exclusive or time-limited exclusives) and providing developers with a more favorable revenue share (88% to developers, compared to Steam's 70%-80%). However, its launcher features and community ecosystem are often criticized for being less refined than Steam's.
Although Epic showcased strong growth data, analysts' views also reflect the common sentiment among some core players: EGS is often treated more as a "free game collector" rather than a primary platform for purchasing games. The $400 million spent on third-party games in 2025 still represents a significant gap compared to Steam's massive market scale, and the 2.78 billion hours of playtime must be considered in light of its user base—EGS announced over 270 million total users in 2024.
Epic Games previously announced that it will launch a completely revamped new launcher in 2026, claiming it will be five times faster and feature an improved user interface.