Jim wrote on Aug 24, 2023, 09:56:

eRe4s3r wrote on Aug 24, 2023, 09:43:
The only way you could get me to ever use that store is if they had lower prices and better features.
They got neither.

Stores don't set prices, publishers/developers do. Console games don't have steam features and they sell well, so the features thing isn't really a valid selling point.

From what we've heard, Valve does effectively set prices on other stores. A publisher/developer isn't able to set lower prices on Epic without Valve cutting off their Steam sales.

I don't think that the latter point is necessarily correct. First, since eRe4s3r said he wouldn't buy from Epic without better prices and features, so it's a valid selling point for him. Second, there are other reasons why console sales are usually higher than PC, and mobile is usually higher than both of those put together. You wouldn't necessarily say that since mobile gamers tolerate and reward predatory monetization that it's a non-factor in a game's success or failure on other platforms.

eRe4s3r wrote on Aug 24, 2023, 09:43:
The only way you could get me to ever use that store is if they had lower prices and better features.
They got neither.

Stores don't set prices, publishers/developers do. Console games don't have steam features and they sell well, so the features thing isn't really a valid selling point. The epic model does work well in many cases, for example, early releases of games that really need more development time. They then are able to push a better completed steam release. Indie games also that might get completely lost in a steam release. I am reminded of a few years back some developer was bragging that he refused an epic deal and would be going with steam. Some good publicity there but completely disappeared after that. Was it really their best move?

The only way you could get me to ever use that store is if they had lower prices and better features.
They got neither.

Hardline Mike wrote on Aug 23, 2023, 22:45:
I'm not sure keeping that extra 12% is worth the loss of the sales you'd get from people who only buy on Steam even with Steam taking 30% or whatever.

It's definitely not worth it, the exposure from Steam alone is massive. The only reason people were taking exclusivity deals was the upfront money, it let them put more into marketing. This is a nice press release but they probably won't have many takers. It's a high cost of capital environment and Epic probably doesn't want to dump truck money at quality exclusives anymore so I'm not surprised.

RedEye9 wrote on Aug 24, 2023, 04:43:
But is it really thrown into the fire if they recoup what they paid? From your link;

Was it worth it for Epic? According to the document, 100 percent of the $80m minimum guarantee was recouped within just two weeks, with $100m generated in a fortnight. In the first two weeks, Epic made $9.2m from Borderlands 3, based on its 12 percent cut. Borderlands 3 achieved just over 1.5 million users on the store within that timeframe. Crucially for Epic, 53 percent of those users were new to the Epic Games Store.

Doesn't that imply they didn't recoup what they paid? $9.2M for Epic in the first two weeks of sale doesn't sound like a strong start to matching $100M+ paid out unless there's reason to expect future sales to be linear instead of front-loaded.

Nucas wrote on Aug 24, 2023, 00:31:

RedEye9 wrote on Aug 23, 2023, 22:17:

jdreyer wrote on Aug 23, 2023, 21:27:

WannaLogAlready wrote on Aug 23, 2023, 21:12:
Possibly one of the few ways to make an inroad into the Steam behemoth dominance.

They were already paying through the nose for timed exclusives, I don't think a bit extra will make much difference.

Where did they post the amount that they were paying for timed to exclusives. They're guaranteeing a certain amount of money, whether that's made up by sales or by epic I don't think we know the answer.

rev guarantees for indies, the major titles were getting huge pay offs in addition to that as the apple case revealed.

they paid 10 million dollars for control. they paid an astonishing 100+ million for borderlands 3. the amount they've thrown into the fire for exclusives is incredible.

But is it really thrown into the fire if they recoup what they paid? From your link;

Was it worth it for Epic? According to the document, 100 percent of the $80m minimum guarantee was recouped within just two weeks, with $100m generated in a fortnight. In the first two weeks, Epic made $9.2m from Borderlands 3, based on its 12 percent cut. Borderlands 3 achieved just over 1.5 million users on the store within that timeframe. Crucially for Epic, 53 percent of those users were new to the Epic Games Store.

RedEye9 wrote on Aug 23, 2023, 22:17:

jdreyer wrote on Aug 23, 2023, 21:27:

WannaLogAlready wrote on Aug 23, 2023, 21:12:
Possibly one of the few ways to make an inroad into the Steam behemoth dominance.

They were already paying through the nose for timed exclusives, I don't think a bit extra will make much difference.

Where did they post the amount that they were paying for timed to exclusives. They're guaranteeing a certain amount of money, whether that's made up by sales or by epic I don't think we know the answer.

rev guarantees for indies, the major titles were getting huge pay offs in addition to that as the apple case revealed.

they paid 10 million dollars for control. they paid an astonishing 100+ million for borderlands 3. the amount they've thrown into the fire for exclusives is incredible.

Hardline Mike wrote on Aug 23, 2023, 22:45:
I'm not sure keeping that extra 12% is worth the loss of the sales you'd get from people who only buy on Steam even with Steam taking 30% or whatever.

you guys are missing that this extends to key sites as well. so you can get your title in front of people on humble, GMG, fanatical, and sell discounted keys to gamers, but they activate on epic game store and you get to keep everything.

its a tacit admission that epic games store is a literal fucking black hole. they know they need more eyeballs.

it'll never move the needle on its own, they need more than this, but its certainly a good step to get on equal footing. i haven't bought a game directly through steam in a while - pre-ordered the mondo edition of starfield on GMG for 20% off last week.

no sale

I am not a fan of exclusivity. I hate it really. But it's a good move by Epic even though it won't really move the needle.

Desperation. Steam is eating their lunch.

I'm not sure keeping that extra 12% is worth the loss of the sales you'd get from people who only buy on Steam even with Steam taking 30% or whatever.

jdreyer wrote on Aug 23, 2023, 21:27:

WannaLogAlready wrote on Aug 23, 2023, 21:12:
Possibly one of the few ways to make an inroad into the Steam behemoth dominance.

They were already paying through the nose for timed exclusives, I don't think a bit extra will make much difference.

Where did they post the amount that they were paying for timed to exclusives. They're guaranteeing a certain amount of money, whether that's made up by sales or by epic I don't think we know the answer.

WannaLogAlready wrote on Aug 23, 2023, 21:12:
Possibly one of the few ways to make an inroad into the Steam behemoth dominance.

They were already paying through the nose for timed exclusives, I don't think a bit extra will make much difference.

Possibly one of the few ways to make an inroad into the Steam behemoth dominance.

Trying to get a bigger slice of pie, who can blame them.