Epic Games Store GM Acknowledges Steam’s Dominance in Gaming Market

Epic Games Store Reflects on Growth and Future Challenges

In a recent year-end review, Epic announced notable achievements for the Epic Games Store. Among highlights are remarkable increases in third-party game sales, which surged by 57% compared to the previous year. The platform also welcomed over 317 million total PC users, with 78 million monthly active users (MAUs) recorded in December 2025. This spike was partially attributed to the giveaway campaign for Hogwarts Legacy, which introduced approximately six million new users to the platform. However, despite a 4% rise in playtime14%, indicating a decline in interest in first-party games like Fortnite and Rocket League.

Insights from Steve Allison on Market Position

In an exclusive interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Steve Allison, General Manager of the Epic Games Store, discussed the platform’s intentions moving forward. Rather than competing head-to-head with Valve’s Steam, the leading player in the PC gaming market, Allison stressed a vision of coexistence:

“Steam is a huge part of the PC ecosystem. It’s not going away. We’re not going to topple Steam.”

Addressing Criticism and Upcoming Improvements

Allison candidly recognized the consistent criticism directed at the Epic Games Store in comparison to Steam. Acknowledging the challenges, he announced that Epic undertook a comprehensive redesign of the Epic Games Launcher in October 2025. The improved launcher, slated for release in May or June, promises to enhance user experience by allowing libraries to load almost instantaneously. He explained:

“We get so much criticism. I hate reading it, but I also appreciate it. It’s not untrue… So we decided in October last year to rip the whole foundation down and rebuild it.”

Strategic Growth Plans for the Future

Looking forward, Allison suggested that the launch of mobile versions in August 2024 would significantly boost growth. He expressed optimism about increasing user engagement on PC, aiming for a goal of 100 million MAUs in the next four years:

“Mobile will be a big vector of growth, but like I said, I think we have room to get to a hundred million MAU on PC over the next four years.”

He further highlighted plans to enhance the store’s financial prospects, aiming for a 20-30% share of spending.“You’ll see us being pretty aggressive on our spend share on PC, ” he added.

Understanding User Preferences

For those curious about why many PC gamers gravitate towards Steam over the Epic Games Store, related insights can be found in comments from Adrian Chmielarz, CEO of The Astronauts, shedding light on user preferences in the dynamic gaming landscape.

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