Epic Games Improving Its Social Features

Epic Games is ramping up its efforts to enhance the social experience of its game store, which has recently expanded to mobile devices. After officially launching the mobile version, the company is setting its sights on adding social features that could entice gamers to engage more with the platform from both mobile and desktop.

Head of Epic Games Store Speaks Out

Steve Allison, head of the Epic Games Store, candidly acknowledged in a recent interview with The Verge that their current social features on PC leave much to be desired. He stated, "Let’s call it what it is. Our social features on PC suck." He emphasized the importance of social connectivity, referencing how integral these features are to the massively popular game Fortnite. Epic aims to leverage its success in social interactions within Fortnite to enhance the overall store experience, allowing players to connect, chat, and team up across devices—whether on Android, iOS, or PC.

Timeline for New Features

However, fans may have to wait until after summer 2025 to experience these new social features, as Allison forewarns that the rollout is still in the planning stages.

Introduction of Free Games on Mobile

In the meantime, Epic is set to introduce its free games initiative to mobile in the fourth quarter of this year, with a slight twist compared to the PC version. Unlike the PC platform where new free games are offered weekly, the mobile rollout may not start with this frequency. Allison mentioned that mobile self-publishing tools are planned for launch in the first half of 2025, which would eventually permit a weekly update of free offerings. Due to Apple's technology fees, some free games may only be available on Android initially, potentially complicating the launch for developers and users alike.

Third-Party Games Coming Soon

The introduction of third-party games on the mobile Epic Games Store is also on the horizon, projected for December. According to Allison, the goal is to have between 10 to 50 games at launch, although he cited payment integration as a significant hurdle. Many mobile developers typically rely on Google and Apple’s payment systems, and they need to weigh their options before opting into Epic's payment processing.

Positive User Growth

Despite these challenges, there's positive momentum for Epic overall. The company announced a record 70 million monthly active users as of September, showcasing its growth potential. However, reality has set in regarding mobile app installs; while Epic initially aimed for 100 million new installations by the end of the year, the actual number so far stands at only 10 million, with Sweeney noting it’s “likely impossible” to hit that target by year's end due to barriers imposed by mobile platforms.

Looking Ahead

Stay tuned, as Epic Games gears up to tackle these obstacles and perhaps revolutionize its store with features that gamers have long been yearning for!