Epic First Run launches today, and introducing the Now On Epic program

[GFreeman]

Introducing Epic First Run, our opt-in exclusivity program for third-party developers and publishers on the Epic Games Store. Registration is open through our self-publishing flow in the Epic Developer portal. Additionally, we are kicking off Now On Epic: a new back catalog incentive program for developers and publishers to bring their previously released products to the Epic Games Store. Now On Epic gives participants the opportunity to boost their net revenue from user spending on eligible products from 88% to 100% in their first six months on the store on all payments processed by Epic Games. After this initial six-month run, participating titles will continue to benefit from Epic's industry-leading 88% / 12% revenue split.

The Epic Games Store is home to a global audience with over 230 million players and 68 million monthly active users. Releasing back-catalog content on the Epic Games Store helps reach new, incremental audiences and ensures that the content that our players are looking for can be consistently discovered. Participants can leverage publisher and franchise sale opportunities to maximize this unique opportunity during their participating titles' first six months on the Epic Games Store.



Participating in this program requires a commitment to release a minimum of three products that have been released prior to October 31, 2023 and are currently live on another third-party PC storefront (or are included in a third-party subscription service). Participants that do not have three products currently live that meet the above criteria must bring over all products that are live. All participating products must launch by June 30, 2025, though they do not need to launch on the Epic Games Store at the same time.

What is the Now On Epic program?
Now On Epic is a back catalog incentive program that offers developers and publishers the opportunity to boost their net revenue from user spending on eligible products from 88% to 100% in their first six months after release on the Epic Games Store for any game released before October 31, 2023 on another third-party PC store or included in a third-party subscription service.

When the product has been available for 6 months on the Epic Games Store, the revenue share captured from user spending will revert to Epic's industry-leading 88% / 12%.

You can enroll in the program until December 31, 2024, and all eligible products must be released on the Epic Games Store by June 30, 2025.

Who can participate?
This program is open to developers and publishers with registered Epic Games developer accounts and eligible products that launched on another storefront or service before October 31, 2023.

Which products are eligible for the program?
Any product that has been previously released and is currently live on another third-party PC store or included in a third-party subscription service available on another third-party PC store. If you have three or more products on a third-party store or third-party subscription service, you must bring at least three of them to Epic Games Store. If you have less than three, you must bring all of those products to Epic Games Store.

Do Early Access products qualify for the Now On Epic program?
Yes, any products released as Early Access are eligible for this program.

How do I get an Epic Developer account?
To create an account, go to the Developer Portal website and follow the instructions to sign in then register your organization and products. For more information, please see our Developer Portal account creation guide.

Can I release a product now and then apply for the Now On Epic program at a later date?
Only products released on another third-party PC storefront or third-party subscription service before October 31, 2023 are eligible for the Now On Epic program. Consider launching through the Epic First Run program for similar benefits for new products.

How do I sign up for the Now On Epic program?
Registration is available through the Epic Games Store Developer Community. Simply log in and start a private discussion with the topic Epic Games Store and the subtopic "Now On Epic". If you're already a partner, please reach out to your Epic Games Store account manager directly.

General questions about the program? Head over to the Epic Games Store Developer Community to connect with our staff and other developers on this topic and more. If you have a confidential question, please log in and start a private discussion with the topic Epic Games Store and the subtopic "Now On Epic". If you're already a partner, please reach out to your Epic Games Store account manager directly.

How do I release my product on the Epic Games Store?
It has never been easier to bring your products to the Epic Games Store. In March this year, we launched our self-service publishing tools to streamline the onboarding and release process. The tools allow developers to register, set up, test and distribute their products all directly through the Epic Developer Portal.

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[Imouto]

The desperation reeks so hard it's unbelievable.

So they ran out of money for exclusives and this is the last salve in the chamber. Seeing these deadlines I can hardly believe they are going to make it to 2025.

 

[mama]

Nothing wrong with competition in this space.

 

[TechLurker]

The desperation reeks so hard it's unbelievable.

So they ran out of money for exclusives and this is the last salve in the chamber. Seeing these deadlines I can hardly believe they are going to make it to 2025.

Eh, I think it's less desperation and more trying to capitalize on bringing more parity in Store offerings, although it'll be tough for Epic to do so considering that a number of older games exist solely on GoG with permanent ownership, and a lot of adult games are mostly limited to Steam; although Itch.io on EGS allows for a sort of workaround (but proper AO-type games have been one of their no-nos when they first opened the EGS). Heck, they seem to also be aiming at the few remaining games still locked behind publisher launchers (like Blizzard's Launcher or Bethesda's former launcher, and others similar).

That's been their goal for awhile in the hopes of usurping Steam and GoG, and now that they've gotten most major releases on EGS, and most new, big-name releases come out on all 3 storefronts, they're looking to expand on older titles that haven't made it. They straight-up admit it too.

Releasing back-catalog content on the Epic Games Store helps reach new, incremental audiences and ensures that the content that our players are looking for can be consistently discovered. Participants can leverage publisher and franchise sale opportunities to maximize this unique opportunity during their participating titles' first six months on the Epic Games Store.

 

[Crackong]

exclusivity program

TLDR, it is just another exclusivity program.

 

[Dammeron]

Nothing wrong with competition in this space.

Competition - yes. Monopoly in sales of specific products - no.

 

[Deleted member 177333]

The desperation reeks so hard it's unbelievable.

So they ran out of money for exclusives and this is the last salve in the chamber. Seeing these deadlines I can hardly believe they are going to make it to 2025.

Yep, they just laid off a bunch of people and are now starting to cut off the exclusive games and are trying to incentivize this next. Feels like a last ditch attempt at staying alive. I'll do my part and happily toss my shovel-full of dirt onto their tomb when the time comes, smiling as I do it.

 

[mechtech]

I havent installed epic since I built new pc almost a year ago...............been missing out on those free games...........

 

[AusWolf]

The desperation reeks so hard it's unbelievable.

So they ran out of money for exclusives and this is the last salve in the chamber. Seeing these deadlines I can hardly believe they are going to make it to 2025.

It looks like it.

Competition - yes. Monopoly in sales of specific products - no.

This! Also, competition is good when it brings improvements over the other product or service, and not more exclusivity deals to force gamers out of having a choice.