Dave Oshry’s Insights on Epic Games Store vs. Steam
New Blood Interactive co-founder and CEO, Dave Oshry, has emerged as a prominent figure in the gaming industry, notably through his engaging presence on X (formerly Twitter). Recently, he sparked discussions by sharing industry insights regarding user preferences for game purchasing platforms.
Gamers’ Preferences: A Preference for Steam
Oshry addressed a viral meme that humorously illustrated how gamers would rather buy a title on Steam than snag it for free from the Epic Games Store. To substantiate this claim, he provided a compelling real-world example from New Blood Interactive’s portfolio.
The Case of Blood West
Blood West, a first-person shooter published by New Blood Interactive, was made available for free on the Epic Games Store as part of their holiday giveaway. This program offers a free game each day leading up to New Year’s Eve, and Blood West was featured on December 20, 2025. By the end of this promotional period, it was reported as one of the 20 games included, saving players a total of approximately $550 had they chosen to purchase all of them at full price.
Sales Shift to Steam
Despite the substantial savings, players showed a clear preference for Steam. Oshry noted that on the day Blood West was available for free, its sales on Steam surged by an impressive 200%. He remarked, “I used to think EGS was a Marketing Black Hole, but turns out having your game be free on Epic is great advertising for Steam sales!”
I used to think EGS was a Marketing Black Hole but turns out having your game be free on Epic is great advertising for Steam sales! pic.twitter.com/yDefeTKuXq
— Dave NewBlood (@DaveOshry) January 16, 2026
Developer Royalties and Market Dynamics
The agreement for games offered free on the Epic Games Store includes a lump-sum royalty payment to developers for the duration of the promotional offer. In Blood West’s case, all funds were directed to its developer, Hyperstrange, while New Blood Interactive opted not to claim any royalties from this arrangement.
Oshry elaborated on this strategy, stating, “New Blood doesn’t get any royalties from EGS; we let Hyperstrange take 100% of that. They secured the funds from the free giveaway, investing that back into developing new DLC, while we enjoyed increased sales on Steam.” He also voiced skepticism about Epic’s sales strategy, mentioning, “Epic could give devs 100% of sales and it doesn’t mean anything if there are no sales to begin with—WHAT’S 100% OF $0?”
Community Preferences Over Retail Platforms
This insight from Oshry aligns with previous commentary from industry figures, such as Adrian Chmielarz, founder of The Astronauts. He pointedly stated, “EGS is a shop, and Steam is a community.”Oshry’s example today reinforces that gamers seem to favor platforms that cultivate a sense of community over those that simply offer transactions.
For further details, check out the full story on Wccftech.
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