"Epic Begins Scheme to Fund Developers for Reviving Older Games on Their Store"

In a recent move to tap into an extensive gaming trove, Fortnite creator Epic Games unveiled a new program that encourages game developers and publishers to release their previously launched games on the Epic Games Store. As per the news shared by freelance writer Cristina Alexander on IGN, the incentive-based program, dubbed "Now on Epic", promises to enhance the developer's revenue from user spending from the standard 88% to a full 100% for all eligible games republished on their platform.

The enlisted game developers must pledge to re-release at least three games by October 31, 2023 under this newfound initiative. However, those who lack three eligible games are expected to republish all the games they already have live on other platforms. The deadline for opting into the "Now on Epic" program is December 31, 2024, and all eligible games should be launched on the Epic Games Store by June 30, 2025.

Since its advent in 2018, the Epic Games Store has struggled to rival the popularity of platforms like Steam, despite its exclusive agreements and hefty incentives for developers. This move is seen as a step towards competitiveness in the digital games marketplace. However, the launch of "Now on Epic" follows closely after a major downsizing at Epic Games, resulting in approximately 16% of its workforce being laid off. This included employees from Mediatonic, the studio behind the hit game Fall Guys.