Epic Games Store: battle for dominance in the PC market

The Epic Games Store launched in 2018 with the goal of challenging Valve’s Steam platform for control of the PC gaming space. The store has positioned itself as an alternative option, especially known for its attractive promotions and free games. Since launch, the platform has drawn in a large number of gamers, but recent insights raise questions about the lasting impact of those strategies.

Initial appeal

The Epic Games Store has posted some impressive numbers since launch, largely thanks to its frequent free game giveaways. That tactic led to an initial spike in active users. However, the success of giving away free games may be temporary. According to two former Epic Games employees, many gamers still return to Steam after the initial promotions end. That raises the question of how effective the Epic Games Store really is at retaining users over the long term. It is well known that gamers often switch back to Steam, where the user interface and overall experience are seen as more streamlined.

Competition and headwinds

The Epic Games Store is facing several challenges as Steam maintains its dominant position. Gamers have said that switching between multiple platforms can be a cumbersome experience. Steam’s continued growth and popularity are reflected in the record numbers the platform has recently reached. On March 22, 2026, Steam hit a massive 42,318,602 concurrent players, setting a new record. That was up from the previous record of 42 million concurrent players on January 11, 2026.

Current statistics

Despite aggressive marketing strategies, the Epic Games Store has shown it can compete strongly with Steam. Steam currently has around 37,053,591 active players, indicating that a significant majority of gamers remain loyal to the platform. This contrasts with the Epic Games Store’s efforts to attract a broader player base. Even Epic’s successes, such as reaching 78 million monthly active users, come with the short-term challenge of keeping those players engaged.

Revenue models and player behavior

Attention on these platforms goes beyond player counts alone. Revenue from third-party games on the Epic Games Store comes in at around $400 million per year. Those are significant figures, but they are still well below what Valve reports. That appears to point to a structural challenge for Epic in convincing developers of the benefits of its platform compared with Steam, which generates much higher revenue for developers.

Competition between PC gaming platforms is expected to continue as Epic keeps investing in its platform and gamer frustration persists. The question remains how the Epic Games Store can adapt to the changing needs of gamers and what the future holds for this battle for dominance in the PC market.