Review of the Epic Games Store in 2023

99 Views
2 minute read

2023 was a banner year for the Epic Games Store, with a whopping $950 million in sales, signaling a vibrant 16% uptick from the previous year.

While Epic’s own games were the heavyweight champions, accounting for the lion’s share, third-party titles still pulled in a cool $310 million despite a 13% dip from the previous year. Among the chart-toppers were Fortnite, Rocket League, and Genshin Impact, showcasing the diverse tastes of the Epic user base.

The Epic community saw significant growth, with the user base expanding by 17% to reach 270 million and cross-platform accounts climbing to 804 million. This growth was matched by an impressive expansion of the Epic Games Store’s catalog, nearly doubling with over 1,300 new titles added, bringing the total offering to a staggering 2,900+ games.

Despite dialing back on free game offerings compared to 2022, Epic still managed to dish out 86 free games, valued at over $2,000 USD, which were snapped up over 580 million times. And there’s big news on the horizon with Epic’s plans to launch an iOS store in Europe in 2024, promising to shake things up on the mobile front.

2023 wasn’t just about sales and expansion; it was also a year of innovation. Epic introduced several new features to enhance the user and developer experience, from a drastically improved launcher performance to the launch of self-publishing tools and the Epic Rewards program, aiming to make it one of the best loyalty programs in the industry.

Looking ahead to 2024, Epic is setting its sights on further improving game discovery and the overall player experience. A new Download Manager, enhancements to Offline Mode, and a slew of social improvements are just a few items on the agenda. Plus, with the anticipated launch on iOS in Europe, Epic is gearing up to bring even more games and experiences to a broader audience.

The journey from 2018 to now has been incredible, and as Epic continues to push the boundaries, it’s clear that the Epic Games Store is not just a platform but a thriving community of gamers, developers, and creators. Here’s to another year of epic gaming and innovation!