Steam vs Epic Games Store – Choose What’s Best For You? Update 11/2024

When it comes to buying and playing PC games, Steam has become the go-to platform.

No other platform has even come close to challenging Valve’s storefront in terms of popularity.

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As a result of this, Epic Games launched the Epic Games Store.

For all their similarities, the ways in which they sell and play video games are poles apart.

To address the age-old question, “What is the best PC game store?”, we’ll compare Steam and the Epic Games Store in a number of different categories.

Stay tuned for any new developments in the competition between these two services.

While you’re here, why not have a look at some of our hand-picked lists of games?

• A colossal collection of video games
• Big Picture mode can be a useful tool.
• Game suggestion tools are many.
• Streaming and downloading from afar is possible.
• Streaming of video
• a few films and software programs of interest
• only-available games
• Giveaways of free games
• There is no digital rights management (DRM).
• Unreal Engine developers’ resources
• Unsatisfactory level of client service
• There are no built-in tools for video capture.
• A crowded interface
• Ignoring some of the most prestigious titles
• Core functionalities
• Insufficient sense of belonging.

Steam

Steam has been operating since 2003, making it a seasoned veteran in the PC gaming market.. In addition to popular games like Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Portal, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike, Valve is best known for developing the Source engine, which powers many of Steam’s other popular titles.

On top of that, it includes game streaming software, Steam Workshop allowing the community to develop content as well as other services.

Epic Games

Epic Games owns and operates the Epic Games Store, a PC retailer. Epic’s most well-known products are Fortnite and the Unreal Engine. In December of last year, the store officially opened for business.

Additionally, they provide a variety of time-limited exclusives, mainly indie titles with a few AAA games tossed in for good measure. A games library, a news feed, a buddy list, and a chat feature are all included.

The two storefronts are almost the same. Consider some of the most important elements of each.

Steam vs Epic’s Games

There is just one topic that matters in this discussion, and that is the games.

Steam, which has been active for nearly two decades, boasts the largest selection of games, with over 30000 titles. There’s a wide variety here, from well-known franchises to lesser-known gems, so there should be something for everyone. On the other hand, just because there are a lot of games available doesn’t mean they’re all good. Gems often be overlooked because of the sheer number of games available.

However, Epic Games, which is only a little over two years old, has a considerably more limited collection. Whereas Steam focuses on quantity, Epic Games is considerably more concerned with quality, with far fewer titles that are either broken or incomplete.

Some of these promotions are exclusive to Epic, as well. Their revenue has obviously been affected by this, as you can read here.

So if you’re looking for the widest collection of games, Steam has the upper hand. However, if you’re content with a more limited variety, you’ll probably choose Epic.

Steam vs Epic User Interface

These storefronts are laid out in an interesting way. The user interfaces of both shops are simple and uncluttered. In terms of menu options, newsfeed, and other components, Steam has a lot more to offer, making it appear busier. When starting a game through Epic’s storefront, on the other hand, all you have to do is click on the icon and select “Launch.”

Which user interface (UI) you choose will ultimately be a matter of taste. Although Epic Games’ simpler UI has the upper hand when it comes to evaluating their strengths.

Steam vs Epic Store Features

Those who shop at either of these locations will benefit from a number of extra features. For free each month, Epic Games offers a selection of big-name games including GTA V and Alan Wake, as well as the whole Batman Arkham series. Epic Games also emphasizes timed exclusive releases, and as a result, PC games published via Epic Games may be the first to be made available anywhere else.

Steam, on the other hand, has had nearly two decades to perfect its service. It contains a user recommendation algorithm that assists players in finding the games they wish to play. An in-game shop for purchasing game stuff is also available. An extremely well-liked review system allows you to provide input for both the game’s creators and other players. A rating is then assigned to each game using this review approach. There are several drawbacks to this, such as the risk of review bombing, where players flood a game with nasty reviews.

Overall, though, Steam has a distinct advantage in terms of producing better suggestions, exchanging in-game items, and taking advantage of promotions because of its extensive user base.

Steam vs Epic Games Social

This is a no-brainer for Steam in this category. Epic Games has a friend’s list and chat, but Steam has a wealth of other features. With Steam, you receive a profile page where you can post, share media, and get suggestions based on what your friends are doing.

Cross-platform support is also included, so you may converse with friends even if they’re on a different platform.

READ MORE: Steam vs. Epic Games 2021 Market Share Update: Users and Revenue

Steam vs Epic Prices and Revenue Split

While pricing may be an important element for many players, how many of us consider the money that is returned to the producers of the games?

First and foremost, let’s talk about costs. This is a bit of a toss-up because each store has its own unique pricing plan. Because Steam supports a wider range of local currencies, its pricing tend to reflect the current state of the market. To save money, Epic employs an easier-to-understand conversion rate. However, it’s not universal.

On the income side, Steam offers a share of 30%, 70%, 20%, and 80% (Steam/Developer). The 12/88 ratio offered by Epic, on the other hand, is significantly more generous, implying that more money will be returned to developers, who may then use it to create new content. So if you’re a fan of helping developers, this could be a good option.

Steam Store Explained

Valve Software, creators of popular franchises such as Left 4 Dead, Dota, Team Fortress, Portal, and Counter-Strike, is behind Steam, a digital distribution platform for video games.

The Source game engine, which is utilized in the bulk of Valve’s releases, was also built by the company.

As one of the first digital gaming marketplaces, Steam was founded by Valve in 2003.

Even while Steam may be accessed from any web browser or mobile device, it is primarily utilized on laptops and PCs.

Outside of game distribution, Steam is a social hub where users may submit reviews, participate in community conversations, stream games and download non-gaming applications, among other things.

Epic Games Store Explained

Also, the Epic Games Store distributes digital games.

Epic Games, the company behind the Unreal Engine, Fortnite, and the Epic Games Launcher, launched the marketplace in December of last year.

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EGS can be accessed via a web browser or as a desktop application, similar to Steam, by users.

The vast majority of game publisher-operated digital storefronts only sell games they’ve self-published.

With that said, EGS manages to put together an appealing mix of exclusives, popular indie titles and upcoming AAA blockbusters.

EGS also provides social features, such as buddy lists and chat, in addition to game distribution.

In addition, a built-in games library allows users to keep track of their purchases, and a Home page provides information on current promotions and forthcoming releases.

Steam vs. Epic Games Store

It is time to evaluate how these two platforms stack up against each other in the real world.

These categories are what we’ll be working on: user interface, game selection, price/revenue split; store incentives; and social features.

If you’d want to know which store came out on top, keep reading!

User Interface

Both Steam and EGS have sleek user interfaces, as can be seen by comparing the two platforms’ respective stores.

In contrast, Steam’s UI is far more “busy” with features, graphics, text, and overall information delivered to the user when compared to the other two.

Switching to EGS, you’ll notice that things seem a lot more streamlined and minimalistic than they did on Steam.

The Library may now display games with huge icons arranged in a grid instead of small thumbnails, since any news about games is restricted to the user’s Home tab.

Finding a game is a lot easier than using Steam’s list format, and once a user has selected a game, starting it up is as simple as clicking on the icon and selecting ‘launch.’ ”

Steam is likely to be a better option if you’re looking for more in-depth information on each game.

EGS, on the other hand, has a clean and simple UI that makes it easy to find games without any hassle.

Game Selection

EGS and Steam truly come to a head when it comes to game selection, which is arguably the most important factor.

For the purposes of this comparison, we’ll look at only the quality of the games available, rather than the selection.

Steam, on the other hand, has EGS beat when it comes to genre variety.

Additionally, Steam has a tag tool that allows you to combine keywords to identify hyper-specific subgenres, such as “roguelike-dungeon crawlers” or “crabfighting-RPGs”.

Because of this, lower-quality titles sometimes sneak through the cracks on Steam, giving the store an unprofessional air.

You end up with a bloated storefront that requires users to search through junk to locate the hidden jewels when you combine this with Valve’s less than spectacular strategy to detecting and eliminating offenders.

EGS, on the other hand, has a much smaller selection of games available for purchase.

Epic’s storefront has seen an increase in the amount of AAA and independent games, most notably as timed or full exclusives.

But Epic faces a double-edged sword here, as it simultaneously attracts sales and generates unfavorable chatter among PC gamers who are already firmly rooted in Steam’s ecosystem..

Even yet, it’s impossible to dismiss EGS’s higher game quality.

As a result of Epic’s risk-taking in securing exclusivity partnerships, the company is far more meticulous when selecting which new games to sponsor.

In addition, Epic does a better job than Steam of holding developers accountable for neglecting Early Access titles. Epic:

Even prior to the launch of EGS, Steam has consistently underperformed in this area.

The winners for this category are now crystal clear after all of this has been said.

Price and Revenue Split

When it comes to the allure of using a digital game shop, price is an important consideration.

Despite the fact that neither platform seeks to undercut the other, there are several scenarios where game costs may fluctuate depending on regional pricing rules.

A standard dollar conversion is often used instead of market-valued prices on Steam, which is available in a wider range of local currencies than EGS.

Some consumers may wind up paying more because of the price fluctuation, which is evident.

A raw conversion rate that is cheaper for the bulk of titles helps EGS in this regard.

However, Epic may apply its own regional pricing, which may result in a larger price tag.

Epic has the best revenue split for games sold between distributors and developers.

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At 12/88 in favor of the developer, the platform has consistently outperformed Steam’s revenue splits since its launch, which range from 30/70 to 20/80 depending on sales.

However, if a game generates more than $10 million on Steam, that percentage drops.

There is no difference in Epic’s revenue split based on sales or money received.

With Epic’s Unreal Engine 4, any developer who uses it can profit from having the regular 5% royalty charge waived.

Store Perks

There are bonuses to any digital retailer, which help it stand out from the competitors and reward the user.

When it comes to game recommendations, Steam’s years of expertise are an asset; it has had plenty of time to fine-tune its algorithm.

Using the Explore Queue, a user’s search history and library are used to construct a selection of games that are likely to interest them.

Aside from the games themselves, Steam also offers mini-games, collectibles, in-game goodies, and profile cosmetics.

However, Steam’s review system is the best advantage it has to offer, allowing you to express your thoughts on games with developers and other users.

Reviews are used to assign an overall and more recent score to a game, with higher ratings denoting a more positive reception.

Review bombing is a problem with Steam’s review system, which allows people to falsely reduce a game’s score in an effort to retaliate against the developer or publisher.

There may not be a built-in system of evaluation at EGS, but they do offer some attractive benefits.

Among the perks offered to members are free downloads of popular games like Grand Theft Auto 5, which can be kept for a limited period only.

EGS, despite its best efforts, falls short in comparison to Steam’s user benefits.

When it comes to discovering new recommendations, exploring sales, buying and selling digital goods, or engaging with other users, Steam is unsurpassed.

Social Features

Steam has been around for a long time, which has allowed it to continually expand its social features.

With their own personal page, users may publish updates and media; level up; receive recommendations based on what their friends are playing; and share their progress with others.

Text and voice chat are also included in the Steam platform’s features.

Finally, it allows you to link your Steam and console profiles, allowing you to chat with pals across different systems.

When we said that EGS felt “barebones,” we meant exactly this.

It’s possible to add individuals to your friends list and talk with them, but that’s about it.

For games, there are no individual profiles, no media sharing, no review system, and no community hubs.

When it comes to user-to-user engagement on Epic’s platform since its introduction, they haven’t been able to match Steam’s.

Having said that, you can probably see where this is going from here.

FAQS:

Which is better – Epic vs Steam?

Choosing a favorite child might be likened to attempting to select which of your children is the best. Both have their positive attributes. In the end, you must select which factors are most essential to you. We hope we were able to shed some light on the situation for you. You could, of course, utilize both at the same time.

What’s The Best PC Game Store?

It’s easy to see which store comes out on top when you factor in each category and do a little quick math.

Over the years, Steam has developed a devoted and active user base due to its longevity.

Additionally, the sheer number of games available on Steam might be daunting at times.

In spite of the fact that a great deal of garbage ends up in the shop, unique keywords and tags can nonetheless help you find a great deal of fantastic games.

EGS may be slicker and provide more exclusives and free games each month, but it lacks the capabilities to compete with Steam.

PC Game Store of Choice: Steam

No matter how far Valve is ahead, the EGS can still catch up if they don’t address issues like low-quality titles flooding their store, frequent review bombing, and low revenue shares.

Even though Epic has a long way to go, they appear to be accomplishing exactly that.

Is Steam better than Epic Games Store?

Epic has the best revenue split for games sold between distributors and developers. In comparison to Steam’s variable revenue splits, which range from 30/70 to 20/80, the platform’s revenue splits have been consistently better for developers since its debut. The current split is 12/88 in favor of developers.

Is Steam losing to Epic?

Epic Games may suffer millions of dollars in losses as a result of its struggle to recoup expenditures from the Epic Games Store after competing with Steam for market share. If things stay as they are, Epic Store won’t be profitable until 2027, according to Apple’s estimates.

Conclusion:

Steam’s reign as the finest PC gaming store is unassailable because to its wealth of titles and user-friendly interface. Customer service might be improved, however.

Despite Epic’s lofty aspirations for its Steam competitor, the Epic Games Store is currently a basic source for PC games.

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Danh mục: Gaming