Epic Games has shared a review highlighting the performance of its Epic Games Store, revealing both positive and negative trends for 2025. Notably, gameplay hours saw a decline of 14% to 6.65 billion hours, while third-party games experienced a 4% increase, totaling 2.78 billion hours. Despite a drop in Fortnite's playtime, it remains the most dominant title on the platform. Epic's spending on third-party games surged by 57% to $400 million, attributed to the rise of popular gacha games. Despite the decline in monthly active users to 67 million, the store's appeal remains strong, particularly with the launch of new features and significant holiday promotions.

What are the key trends in Epic Games Store's performance for 2025?

The Epic Games Store experienced a 14% decline in total gameplay hours year-on-year, primarily due to a drop in playtime for first-party titles like Fortnite. In contrast, third-party game hours increased by 4%, with overall spending on these games rising by 57% to $400 million.

Fortnite, launched in 2017, has had an immense impact on gaming culture, evolving into a massive platform beyond just a battle royale game. It offers crossovers with various franchises, expanding its appeal and player engagement through seasonal content and live events. Despite shifts in player engagement metrics, Fortnite continues to set benchmarks within the industry.