The Future of the Epic Games Store: What Lies Ahead in 2025 and Beyond

Since its launch in 2018, the Epic Games Store has challenged Steam's dominance in digital game distribution, leveraging the success of Fortnite and the Unreal Engine. As it heads into 2025, Epic Games is poised for a transformative phase, with ambitious plans to enhance user experience, expand into mobile markets, and empower developers with innovative policies. Here's a clear and concise look at what's on the horizon for the Epic Games Store and why it matters for gamers and developers alike.

Elevating the User Experience

In 2025, Epic Games is set to roll out features to make its store more intuitive and engaging. A Download Manager, launching in Q1, will let users schedule downloads, prioritize queues, and manage updates, addressing long-standing interface concerns. Pre-loading will allow players to install pre-purchased games before release, ensuring immediate access on launch day.

Game discovery is also getting a boost with an overhauled search and browse system, featuring predictive and semantic search tools. A "For You" personalization feature will deliver tailored game recommendations, enhancing engagement. Social connectivity will improve with cross-platform voice and text chat, game-independent parties, and looking-for-group options, fostering community across PC and mobile. Additionally, gifting will let users buy games for friends, matching a popular feature on rival platforms like Steam.

Mobile Expansion: A Bold Leap Forward

Epic's mobile strategy is a game-changer for 2025. Following a 2024 legal victory against Apple, which allowed Epic to offer webshops for iOS developers to bypass in-app purchase restrictions, the company is challenging the dominance of Apple's App Store and Google Play. The Epic Games Store mobile app will see upgrades, including a refined App Library, an improved Discover Experience, and support for Android App Bundle (AAB) file types.

Epic will open self-publishing tools to all mobile developers in 2025, moving beyond an invite-only beta. In a surprising move, the store will support non-gaming apps, broadening its appeal to a wider audience. This diversification positions Epic as a versatile digital content platform, not just a gaming hub.

Empowering Developers with a Fairer Model

Epic's developer-friendly approach remains a key strength. Starting June 2025, games earning less than $1 million annually will face a 0% revenue share with Epic, with the standard 12% cut applying only after crossing that threshold. This undercuts Steam's 30% revenue share, making Epic an attractive choice for indie developers.

Programs like Epic First Run, offering 100% net revenue for six months of exclusivity, and Now on Epic, incentivizing developers to bring older titles to the store, are expanding the platform's catalog. These initiatives are driving growth, positioning Epic to compete with Steam's vast library of over 50,000 games.

Keeping Users Hooked

The free games program, a hallmark of Epic's strategy, will continue in 2025 across PC and mobile. In 2024, users claimed 595 million free games, proving its power to attract and retain players. A new platform store switching feature will allow seamless browsing and shopping across supported platforms, adding flexibility. With 295 million PC users in 2024-up 25 million from 2023-Epic's focus on engagement is paying dividends.

Navigating a Competitive Landscape

Steam remains the market leader, but Epic is carving out a niche with exclusives, developer incentives, and user-focused features. Its new revenue model and mobile push target indie developers and the growing mobile gaming market, giving it a strategic edge. However, challenges like past interface criticisms and questions about profitability-offset by Fortnite and Unreal Engine revenue-require careful navigation.

A Snapshot of 2025 Plans

Here's a streamlined overview of Epic's key initiatives for 2025:

Category	Feature/Plan	Details
User Experience	Download Manager	Q1 2025, schedules downloads, prioritizes queues, manages updates
User Experience	Pre-Loading	Install pre-purchased games before launch
User Experience	Gifting	Buy games as gifts for friends
User Experience	Search & Browse Overhaul	Predictive and semantic search for better discoverability
User Experience	"For You" Personalization	Tailored game recommendations
Social Features	Cross-Platform Social	Voice/text chat, parties, looking-for-group across PC and mobile
Mobile Expansion	Enhanced Mobile App	Upgraded App Library, Discover Experience, AAB support
Developer Tools	Mobile Self-Publishing	Opens to all developers in 2025, previously invite-only beta
Content Expansion	Non-Gaming Apps	Self-publishing for non-gaming content, expands platform scope
Developer Incentives	Revenue Share Model	0% cut for games under $1M starting June 2025, then 12%
User Engagement	Free Games Program	Continues on PC and mobile to drive user acquisition
Platform Flexibility	Platform Store Switching	Browse and shop across supported platforms

The Path Forward

The Epic Games Store is at a critical juncture. Its focus on user experience, mobile expansion, and developer empowerment signals a bold vision to redefine digital distribution. The 0% revenue share for smaller games and the push into mobile and non-gaming apps could disrupt the market. Yet, Epic must address profitability concerns and refine its interface to maintain momentum.

For gamers and developers, 2025 will be a defining year. If Epic delivers on its roadmap, it could not only rival Steam but also reshape how we engage with digital content. As competition intensifies, Epic Games is betting on innovation and inclusivity, and the stakes are higher than ever.