Steam vs. Epic Games Store: Which is the Better Game Launcher?

Over 10 years ago, people didn’t have much choice when buying PC games online. Since its launch in 2003, the Steam game store has dominated this space, but that’s shifting. The Epic Games Store has emerged as Steam’s biggest challenger.

Their store was launched in December 2018, and it offers a wide selection of timed exclusives, notable indie titles, a few AAA games, and free games every fortnight. But which is the better platform for your PC game?

This Steam vs. Epic Games article looks at the key attributes of both gaming stores to provide you with what you need to make a good decision.

Steam Vs. Epic: Games

Having been around for the last 18 years, Steam has a larger game library to choose from than Epic. The Steam game launcher has more than 30,000 games that range from major titles to indie games. As such, the platform has something to suit every player’s taste.

Figure 1: Steam Games Store. Source: Steam

That said, quantity doesn't always equal quality, and you will undoubtedly find many low-quality/almost unplayable games in the store. The varied quality makes Steam almost similar to Google Play Store, where players have more games to choose from, but the hidden gems are easily buried in all the low-quality content.

Steam is a haven for indie developers, but they struggle to gain exposure among the competition.

Check out our blog, 7 Insider Tips and Tricks to Marketing Your Video Game on Steam, to learn the best Steam game marketing strategies that will help you stand out on the platform.

On the other hand, there are fewer games on Epic, but the quality is more moderated. The collection is less extensive than Steam, but the games are of higher quality, with fewer broken and unfinished titles. Epic is also willing to pay for timed exclusives, and for some time, the Epic Games Store was the only place to play Metro Exodus and Borderlands on PC.

Figure 2: Epic Games Stores. Source: Epic Games

So, when it comes to games selection, you should choose Steam if you want the widest range of options. But if you want a curated selection of games, you should go with Epic.

Who’s the winner?

• Variety of games: Steam
• Quality of games: Epic Games

Steam Vs. Epic: User interface

Regarding the user interface, both stores have a relatively clean layout. However, the Steam game user interface has more features, elements, and tags.

This also applies to its game library. Steam pairs the library with a games newsfeed to provide more information to the users. The downside of this move is that it makes the library very cluttered and difficult to navigate.

Figure 3: Steam newsfeed. Source: Steam

Steam also has a robust recommendation engine that suggests the titles you should try. You can read reviews, follow specific curators, or browse forums as you choose the games to play. As much as all these extra features help improve your shopping experience, they mess up the aesthetics and make the platform look cluttered.

In contrast, the Epic Games user interface features a minimalistic UI that's easy to navigate. When you click on a title, it launches, updates, or installs the game. The newsfeed is on the user's home page, making the library simple and easy to use.

Figure 4: Epic Games Store UI. Source: Epic Games

Since both platforms have modern layouts, the appeal of each storefront's user interface comes down to personal taste. However, judging by their ease of use, the Epic Games platform emerges as the winner.

Fewer tabs, dropdown menus, and features make Epic's UI user-friendly, whereas Steam can be overwhelming for those using the platform for the first time.

Who’s the winner?

• Ease of access: Epic Games
• Detailed user interface: Steam

Steam Vs. Epic: Store features

Besides their game selection and user interface, each storefront has different strengths regarding store features and perks.

The Steam game store features include an enhanced recommendation engine that helps players find the best games. Users are presented with a curated list of game recommendations when they browse the platform.

Figure 5: Community recommendations. Source: Steam

Steam also provides mini-games for sale and has a marketplace for in-game collectibles. Community members can leave a review after playing a game, thus offering valuable feedback that helps new members gauge a particular game's quality. However, this makes the system vulnerable to review bombing, where members leave false negative reviews to hurt a competitor.

The Epic Games launcher download also has some fantastic offers for its users. The Epic Games Store features include limited-period offers on specific games that allow users to download them for free. Some of the big titles offered for free to players include GTA V, the Batman: Arkham Collection, and Alan Wake: American Nightmare.

The store also emphasizes exclusive releases where they partner with developers to release their games on Epic before they are available on other platforms.

But, even with all these features, Steam still has the upper hand because of its experience, ability to make better recommendations, and allowing users to sell and collect items.

Who’s the winner?

• Steam

Steam vs. Epic: Social features

The Epic and Steam game stores both have amazing social features like chat functionality and the ability to create a friends list. However, Steam wins this category because it has considerably better social features than the Epic Games launcher platform.

The Steam game launcher download allows users to create profiles, make posts, and share media. The platform also gives recommendations based on what your friends are playing and allows users to invite their friends to games, groups, and message boards.

Figure 6: Steam Forums. Source: Steam

Steam's forums are another impressive feature of this game store. These discussion forums allow users to share their views on specific issues and interact with players. Users can post questions in a forum to get help from other members. New members should join the New to Steam discussion forum to learn about the platform's features and find friends to play with.

Epic's social features revolve around the chat and your friends list. Users can create a profile and invite their friends to play. Another notable benefit of the platform is that it offers cross-platform support. As such, you can invite your friends to play even when they are using a different platform.

Developers looking to implement social aspects into their games should publish them on Steam to take advantage of its impressive social capabilities.

Who’s the winner?

• Steam

Steam Vs. Epic - Pricing model and revenue split

While price is an essential factor for many players, how many of us think about the money that gets to developers for their unique creations? So how do these two platforms compare regarding their prices and revenue split?

We have something of a draw on price since the stores use different pricing models. Steam has more local currencies, so its prices reflect the local market. On the other hand, Epic uses a standardized conversion model where users pay the dollar equivalent of the cost of games in their local currencies. Games are cheaper in certain regions in this scenario, but Epic sometimes sets regional price differences.

This information makes it difficult to tell which store has better prices for gamers.

Figure 7: Epic games revenue split. Source: Epic Games

If you consider the fact that Epic gives away free games from time to time, then perhaps it is better for gamers. But regarding revenue split, it has a better deal for developers. The store has a generous revenue split of 12/88. This means developers keep 88 percent of the revenues earned from their games.

On the other hand, Steam's revenue split ranges from 30/70 to 20/80, depending on sales. The 20/80 split occurs when a game makes more than $50 million.

Who’s the winner?

• Epic Games

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It's a Wrap!

Our comparison between Steam and the Epic Games Store highlights the important factors to think about when deciding where to host your game. It's tough to pick because both have their own strengths that make them good options for your game.

But no matter which platform you choose, teaming up with us can help boost your game's sales and earnings. We have years of experience and a deep understanding of these platforms, allowing us to craft a plan to market your game effectively.

Curious to see how we can level up your game's success? Get in touch with us today, and we'll start crafting a tailored strategy just for you.