With a new “First Run” program, Epic wants to motivate more developer studios to temporarily offer their titles exclusively in the Epic Games Store. The program allows developers to keep all earnings from their title for six months – as long as they distribute their game exclusively on the Epic Games Store for the same period. Epic announced the program last week during the Gamescom games fair.
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Typically, development studios have to cede a fixed rate of their income to the distribution platforms. This is up to 30 percent by default on Steam, and usually 12 percent on Epic Games. On the other hand, if they participate in the “First Run” program, they keep 100 percent. At the same time, however, they have to do without the launch on alternative platforms such as Steam for six months.
There is one exception: developers are allowed to offer their titles in their own store without restrictions in the first half of the year, writes Epic Games. At the end of the six-month period, developer studios can then also offer their titles on Steam and other distribution platforms. After the “First Run” period, 12 percent commission is also due in the Epic Games Store.
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First Run and Self Publishing
The success of the Epic Games Store is built on several pillars, including free titles, exclusive games, and lower developer fees. The “First Run” program combines two of these pillars and fits well into the Epic strategy. It is likely that the “First Run” program is aimed more at smaller development studios. With larger developers, Epic could continue to negotiate individual deals to bring them exclusively to the Epic Games Store.
Epic Games had already expanded its self-publishing program in the spring. The store is also financially attractive for small studios and developers of Free2Play titles: In contrast to Steam, anyone who offers microtransactions in the Epic Games Store can already use their own payment method. This means that studios can keep 100 percent of all income generated from microtransactions, season passes and loot boxes. On Steam, these transactions also incur a fee of up to 30 percent.
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