Epic Video games has at the moment launched some quite spectacular stats based mostly on person knowledge and gross sales numbers that illustrate some respectable progress over the course of 2025. These embody all-time excessive numbers for time and cash spent on third-party video games, and a report 78 million month-to-month lively customers throughout the whole Epic Video games Retailer. Nevertheless, whereas I am going to bathe you with all of the stats shortly, I need to first give attention to Epic’s dedication to bettering the expertise on its platform – one thing that is constantly holding it again in its combat in opposition to Steam.
Whereas Epic boss Tim Sweeney has despatched a number of jabs Steam’s method over time, he is not too long ago been on an actual mission to spotlight Valve’s shortcomings and the positives of the Epic Video games Retailer. Whereas he is completely proper to have fun how developer-friendly Epic is (it lets devs use their very own fee platforms, permits them to maintain their first $1 million of income, then solely costs a 12% fee for something above that) the standard, knee-jerk counterargument from quite a lot of PC players is that this: Steam is solely a greater platform to make use of daily.
In at the moment’s unveiling of EGS stats, Epic additionally lays out some main enhancements coming to its storefront within the close to future.
“This yr we’re targeted on delivering long-requested options and deeper platform enhancements,” Epic says. “We’re within the means of rebuilding the underlying structure of the Epic Video games Retailer Launcher and plan to ship enhancements this summer time. These modifications will make the storefront on the launcher responsive and really feel good to make use of, with quick load occasions and higher stability.” It additionally lists an enlargement of its social options, regional storefronts with “localized discovery,” and a “cross-platform library for gamers throughout PC and cell.”
It additionally confirms that extra Epic-exclusive pre-order incentives will likely be offered for among the largest third-party video games of the yr. We have already seen this in motion with Crimson Desert – pre-ordering on EGS will get you a Fortnite pores and skin of protagonist Kliff MacDuff – and this program will broaden all year long. It lists a number of studios that it is already agreed partnerships with, together with S-Recreation (virtually actually for Phantom Blade Zero), Capcom, and MiHoYo.
Barring a serious fake pas from Valve, I believe Epic is aware of it will by no means get EGS to exchange Steam because the market chief for PC gaming storefronts. Nevertheless, that does not imply it might probably’t eat into its dominance, and modifications and enhancements corresponding to these might help it get there. You could be as developer-friendly as you need (and I applaud Epic for that), but when gamers do not then stick together with your platform to play that more and more giant library of video games, you are solely getting midway there.
Nevertheless, it does appear like issues are on the up. Epic’s 2025 evaluate places third-party spending and sport time entrance and heart.
“We now have some large information for you: participant spending on third-party PC video games grew 57%, reaching an all-time report of $400 million!” Epic says. “As a result of builders who course of their very own in-game funds preserve 100% of their income, this report spending does not even embody among the largest dwell service titles like Marvel Rivals, Valorant, and GTA V, in addition to premium titles like EA Sports activities FC 26.
“One other all-time Epic Video games Retailer report: Gamers spent 2.78 billion hours in third-party video games. 35% of these participant hours had been in third-party video games the place builders used their very own fee options for in-app purchases.”
Throughout all video games on the Epic Video games Retailer, customers racked up 6.65 billion complete gameplay hours final yr, and whereas that’s an general decline versus 2024, time spent in third-party titles elevated by 4%.
There are additionally some juicy numbers on these benefiting from the weekly free Epic video games that get dished out. Curiously, Epic acknowledges the influence the inducement has for these video games on Steam, one thing that Sweeney mentioned on social media a few weeks in the past.
“In 2025, gamers claimed 662 million titles by means of this system. Over 77% of video games set an all-time peak CCU [concurrent users] report on the Retailer through the week of their free provide. This delivered a measurable halo impact throughout the broader PC ecosystem, together with a 40% elevate in Steam CCU whereas the title was free on the Epic Video games Retailer.”
So, a powerful 2025 for Epic, however the hole to Steam by way of customers and constructive sentiment from PC players continues to be pretty giant. The modifications it is outlined, nevertheless, will go a way in the direction of closing it, even when it might take greater than new social options and Fortnite freebies to tear longtime Steam customers away.
