Since its launch at the end of 2018, the Epic Games Store has been enticing gamers with free game giveaways. From big titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 to Civilization 6, Epic has been giving away half-a-billion game copies a year. This strategy has proven to be successful, with more than 580 million free games claimed just last year. However, this generosity comes at a cost, as revealed in documents from Epic’s legal battle with Apple. The company spent $11.6 million on free games in just the first nine months of the program.
Despite the significant investment, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney defends the free game strategy as a cost-effective user acquisition program. Sweeney explains that by offering free games, Epic can acquire new users at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional advertising methods like Facebook or Google ads. Additionally, developers benefit from this strategy as it raises awareness for their games and can lead to increased sales of their paid titles on the Epic Games Store.
In contrast to the success of the free game program, Epic’s exclusivity deals with publishers like Ubisoft have been met with mixed results. While some exclusives have performed well, others have not been as successful. Sweeney acknowledges that the free games program has been more effective in attracting new users to the Epic Games Store.
Despite the financial losses from exclusivity deals, Epic continues to pursue this strategy, especially with games funded through its publishing division. The first Epic-published game, Remedy’s Alan Wake 2, has yet to turn a profit. However, the free games giveaways remain a popular and successful aspect of the Epic Games Store.
For gamers interested in taking advantage of Epic’s free game offerings, the Epic Games Store free games list keeps track of all the games that have been given away. This ongoing promotion has been a hit with users and developers alike, showcasing the effectiveness of Epic’s unique user acquisition strategy.
In conclusion, Epic’s free game giveaway program has been a cost-effective and successful method of attracting new users to the Epic Games Store. While exclusivity deals have had mixed results, the free games promotion continues to be a popular and effective way for Epic to grow its user base and support game developers.