Update won't save it: Analyst doubts the bright future of Epic Games Store
A month ago, Epic Games showcased a new version of its digital game store and launcher at Unreal Fest—faster and more personalized. It is anticipated that these changes will ultimately allow it to better compete with Steam. However, Emmanuel Rosier, Newzoo's director of market analysis, is not so sure about this.
Fortnite
The analyst shared his opinion on the prospects of the Epic Games Store (EGS) in an interview with PC Gamer. He admitted he doesn't understand how the current changes could strengthen the store's position and turn the market situation around.
“Steam has simply become indispensable. EGS attracts an audience by giving away free games, but people log in to their accounts, take them, and don’t even play them. It’s more like collecting games than actually wanting to play them,” explained Rosier.
Rosier also pointed out that in recent years, Epic Games has been trying to compete with too many platforms simultaneously: besides Steam, they’ve been pitting EGS against mobile App Store and Google Play, which required years of legal battles. The analyst is convinced that, in the end, Epic Games merely spread itself too thin, which affected the store's quality.
Instead of competing with established market platforms, Rosier believes Epic Games should focus on developing Fortnite. Although the company reported a decline in gamer interest in the game, Fortnite remains extremely popular. Moreover, regular collaborations provide the project with bursts of engagement.
Interestingly, soon after the interview was published, Newzoo itself quickly distanced itself from the analyst's words. They told PC Gamer that his statements should be regarded as Rosier's personal opinion, not Newzoo's official observations.