Epic Games Prepares to Launch Mobile Storefront

Epic Games is making waves in the mobile gaming world as it prepares to launch its own mobile storefront. The company, renowned for its blockbuster title Fortnite, plans to continue its beloved free games initiative in this new digital space.

Evolution of Epic's Digital Game Store

Since 2018, Epic has operated its digital game store for PC users, facing several challenges along the way. The platform, initially criticized for lacking essential features such as wishlisting, has evolved significantly and now offers a variety of games. In its quest to attract more players, Epic has implemented a strategy of giving away a free game every week, featuring some of the biggest titles in the industry. This tactic is now set to extend to its upcoming mobile store.

Steve Allison's Announcement

During a recent roundtable discussion at Unreal Fest, Steve Allison, the General Manager of the Epic Games Store, announced that the free games program for mobile will debut in the fourth quarter of this year. He stated, "We’re going to have some outstanding offerings for players, and it will provide fantastic opportunities for developers to scale rapidly." Epic anticipates having anywhere from 10 to 50 third-party apps available by the holiday season, though the wide range reflects some uncertainty about launch timelines.

Challenges Ahead

However, it seems that Epic still has some hurdles to overcome. Allison mentioned the ongoing challenges with implementing a payment solution, which could result in a delay for certain apps. This added pressure raises eyebrows about the tight timeline, suggesting that Epic's ambitions might be hampered by technical issues.

Optimism in the Face of Challenges

Earlier this year, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney expressed optimism about the company's free games strategy, noting that it had yielded significant player engagement, even if not every offering turned out to be a "good investment." As the anticipation builds for the mobile launch, all eyes will be on whether Epic's gamble will pay off once again.

Conclusion

In a world where mobile gaming is booming, can Epic's enticing free game giveaways and a robust app lineup truly capture the hearts of gamers this holiday season? Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting launch!