Epic Games is on a mission to make its new mobile games store a major player, aiming to attract a wide range of titles by the end of 2024. They’re looking to secure up to 50 third-party games, enticing developers with a low fee structure. This ambitious plan was revealed following the Unreal Fest keynote on Tuesday, where Epic Games Store general manager Steve Allison announced that the free games program already available on their desktop app would be coming to mobile before the end of the year.
Allison stated that they anticipate “somewhere between 10 and 50” third-party titles being ready for launch during the holiday season. However, implementing a payment solution for developers might take a bit longer.
The Fortnite publisher, known for its competition with Steam on PC, launched its mobile Epic Games Store on Android worldwide in August, followed by a limited release on iOS for EU users. Initially, the store featured their flagship game, Fortnite, along with popular titles like Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe. At launch, Epic announced their commitment to getting their store on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store while simultaneously inviting developers to join their platform.
Adding to the excitement, Allison revealed that Ark: Ultimate Mobile Edition would be one of the first third-party titles to join the store, expected to arrive later this year. To further incentivize developers, Epic will be taking a reduced royalty rate of 3.5% for games developed in Unreal Engine that launch on their store. This move aligns with CEO Tim Sweeney’s stance against Apple and Google, whom he accused of anticompetitive practices in raising developer fees. These accusations stemmed from Epic’s attempt to bypass Apple and Google’s in-app purchase systems, which resulted in their ban from both app stores.
The outcomes of those legal battles, coupled with a 2022 EU ruling forcing certain conglomerates to open up to third-party services, paved the way for Epic’s return to these platforms. During his keynote, Sweeney highlighted the “totally broken vision” of Apple and Google, criticizing their restrictions on developers and their efforts to stifle innovation. He expressed concern that these restrictions would prevent the growth of the metaverse and extract excessive profits from developers.
“We’re at a point now where game development is expensive. It’s low margin, and game companies are suffering,” he added, emphasizing the need for a more equitable and open platform.
Despite these advancements, access to the Epic Games Store on mobile remains limited. Android users can download the app through Epic Games’ website, while EU iOS users have to follow a similar process. With their ambitious plans and commitment to supporting developers, Epic is poised to shake up the mobile gaming market and challenge the dominance of Apple and Google.
