Epic Games mobile store update

Epic Game Store Launches On Mobile - Epic Games

Epic Games has made significant updates to its mobile Games Store and its free games program, with several new developments and announcements:

New Game Additions:

• 17 third-party games added to the Epic Games Store on Android.

• 15 third-party games added to the iOS store.

• New games include Bloons TD 6, Dungeon of the Endless: Apogee, Shapez, Cultist Simulator, and Evoland 2.

• Bloons TD 6 and Dungeon of the Endless: Apogee are the first completely free games offered under the mobile free games program.

Epic Covering Apple’s Core Technology Fee:

• Epic will cover Apple’s €0.50 Core Technology Fee (per download after the first 1m installs) for developers participating in its free games program during the first 12 months.

• This move is intended to counteract the reluctance of developers due to this fee.

Epic's Mobile Free Games Program:

• Mimicking the success of the PC program, new free mobile games will be offered weekly starting later this year.

• Aimed at drawing players to Epic’s store instead of default Android and iOS stores.

Tim Sweeney's Comments on the Core Technology Fee:

• Called Apple’s fee “insidious” and stated it has discouraged developers from joining the Epic mobile store.

• Acknowledged Epic’s current strategy is “uneconomical” and will lead to financial losses, but is necessary to disrupt Apple and Google’s dominance.

Store Performance:

• The Epic Games Store has reached 30m downloads on mobile but remains far below its target of 100m installs.

Potential Impact on Indie Developers

The good:

Reduced Financial Barriers:

Epic covering Apple’s Core Technology Fee eliminates a significant cost for developers, particularly those with smaller budgets.

Free game offerings on the store may boost visibility for participating indie games.

New Distribution Opportunities:

Access to an alternative marketplace can help indie devs bypass the saturated main app stores (Google Play and Apple App Store).

Weekly free games on mobile could provide valuable exposure for small developers.

Lower Costs for Unreal Developers:

The initiative aligns with Epic’s broader goal of supporting Unreal Engine users, offering lower fees to devs using their tools.

Challenges

Limited Player Base:

With only 30m installs on mobile, Epic’s store has a smaller audience compared to Google Play or Apple’s App Store. Indie devs may struggle to reach critical mass.

Uncertain Longevity:

Epic’s admission that the strategy is uneconomical raises concerns about how long this support will last. Indie developers may hesitate to invest time and resources into a store with an uncertain future.

High Competition:

Indie games on the store will compete with higher-profile titles, which may make standing out difficult without additional marketing.

Regional Restrictions:

The iOS store is currently only available in the EU, limiting reach for indie developers targeting global markets.