What's Happening?
Epic Games Store has announced the introduction of a preloading feature for PC games, allowing players to download titles they have pre-purchased up to five days before their official release. This feature aims to enable gamers to start playing immediately upon release, particularly beneficial for games with large file sizes. Despite being a standard feature on other platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store had not implemented preloading until now. The store, which launched in December 2018, has been criticized for lacking several functionalities that are common on other platforms. Epic Games has primarily attracted users through its weekly free game giveaways, but the company acknowledges the need to enhance the store's overall user experience.
Why It's Important?
The addition of preloading is a significant step for Epic Games Store as it seeks to compete more effectively with established platforms like Steam. By improving its service offerings, Epic Games can potentially increase user satisfaction and retention. This move could also influence the competitive dynamics in the digital game distribution market, encouraging other platforms to innovate and improve their services. For gamers, this development means a more seamless experience, reducing wait times on release days and enhancing overall satisfaction with the platform.
What's Next?
Epic Games is expected to continue enhancing its platform by adding more features that are standard on other digital distribution services. The company may also focus on improving the functionality of its launcher, which has been described as 'clunky.' As Epic Games invests in these improvements, it could lead to a more competitive landscape in the digital game distribution market, potentially benefiting consumers with better services and more choices.
