What's Happening?
Epic Games Store has launched a direct gifting feature, allowing users to purchase and send games directly to friends on their Epic friends list. This development comes seven years after the store's initial
launch in 2018, and 18 years after Steam introduced a similar feature. The gifting option excludes free games, pre-purchase offers, subscriptions, and in-game currency. Recipients have 14 days to claim their gifts, which is shorter than Steam's 30-day allowance. Epic's new feature aims to improve user engagement and competitiveness against Steam, which has long dominated the PC gaming market.
Why It's Important?
The introduction of gifting on Epic Games Store is a strategic move to enhance its competitive position against Steam, which has been a leader in the PC gaming market. By offering this feature, Epic Games aims to increase user interaction and loyalty, potentially boosting sales and market share. This development highlights the ongoing competition among digital distribution platforms to offer more user-friendly features. As Epic continues to expand its functionality, it may attract more users who value the ability to gift games, thereby challenging Steam's dominance.
What's Next?
Epic Games Store may continue to develop additional features to further compete with Steam and other digital distribution platforms. Future updates could include expanding the types of items that can be gifted or enhancing the rewards system to incentivize purchases. The gaming community may see increased competition among platforms, leading to more innovative features and better user experiences. Stakeholders, including game developers and publishers, may benefit from increased sales and engagement as Epic Games Store enhances its offerings.
