Gracias por pasar, version en español abajo https://media.vandal.net/m/4-2026/2/20264216271669_1.jpg --- Epic Games content has always been a staple on my blog—something I simply *have* to post so that you guys can get free games for your libraries every week. However, it seems that strategy is now starting to backfire on them, and some former Epic employees have begun to speak out. For years, the Epic Games Store attempted to position itself as the major rival to Valve Corporation and its platform, Steam. The strategy was simple: attract players with exclusives, lower commission rates for developers, and—above all—a constant stream of free games. --- https://acf.geeknetic.es/imgw/imagenes/noticias/2019/17759-epic-games-store-black-friday-1.jpg?f=webp --- But now, according to former employees of the company, the gambit didn't play out exactly as they had hoped. And yes... basically, users did exactly what many people had suspected all along. The store, launched in 2018, bet big on giving away free games every week as a method to acquire users. And boy, did it work... at least in terms of raw numbers. Millions of people created accounts, downloaded the launcher, and claimed titles without paying a single cent. But the problem wasn't attracting people; it was getting them to stay—and, more importantly, getting them to actually make purchases. --- https://pcgamia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Juegos-Gratis-Epic-Games-2024-IP.jpg --- This is where the reality check kicks in. According to recent reports, many of those users would simply open the store, claim the week's free game... and then head right back to Steam to continue their shopping as if nothing had happened. In other words: Epic built a massive base of "users," but not necessarily of *customers*. Internally, this began to be viewed as a serious problem. Although the platform achieved impressive figures for active users—numbering in the tens of millions monthly—revenue from third-party game sales did not grow at the same pace. And, of course, maintaining a model of constantly giving away games isn't exactly cheap. --- https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/indie-picks-summer-2024.jpg?width=1600&height=900&fit=crop&quality=100&format=png&enable=upscale&auto=webp --- Epic has invested millions in securing those free titles, hoping that users would eventually convert into buyers—something that, according to these accounts, never quite materialized. The contrast with Steam is key to understanding the situation. While Epic attempted to compete on price and giveaways, Steam has spent years building something closer to an ecosystem: a community, reviews, forums, achievements, mods—a much more comprehensive experience. This means that, even if someone owns games on Epic, they often still prefer to use Steam as their primary platform. --- https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/header-indies-1920x1080-80fc92f4c79f.jpg --- Ultimately, the free-games strategy proved to be a double-edged sword. Yes, it attracted millions of users, but it also conditioned that very same audience *not* to spend money within the platform. As some online comments put it, Epic "trained" its own user base to expect freebies rather than buying them. --- https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/egs-free-games-breaker-jan-2024-1920x1080-028e40df3111.jpg?resize=1&w=854&h=480&quality=medium --- That doesn't mean the store is dead—far from it. Epic still possesses significant financial muscle, major partnership deals, and a massive base of registered users. However, revelations like these make it clear that competing with Steam isn't simply a matter of giving away games or lowering commission rates. It’s about building habits… and changing habits is much harder. So yes, in the end, exactly what many people suspected from day one came to pass: people showed up for the free stuff… and went off to spend their money somewhere else. They figured us out, guys.
![untitled.gif](https://media.tenor.com/u_tgy22DxOsAAAAC/killua-kil.gif)

### Español
https://media.vandal.net/m/4-2026/2/20264216271669_1.jpg --- Epic Games siempre ha sido de esos contenidos obligatorios que tengo que poner en mi blog para que ustedes tengan juegos gratis cada semana en sus bibliotecas pero al parecer esa estrategia ya les está haciendo daño y algunos ex empleados de epic empezaron a hablar Durante años, la Epic Games Store intentó posicionarse como el gran rival de Valve Corporation y su plataforma Steam. La estrategia era simple: atraer jugadores con exclusivas, comisiones más bajas para desarrolladores y, sobre todo, una lluvia constante de juegos gratis. --- https://acf.geeknetic.es/imgw/imagenes/noticias/2019/17759-epic-games-store-black-friday-1.jpg?f=webp --- Pero ahora, según exempleados de la compañía, la jugada no salió exactamente como esperaban. Y sí… básicamente, los usuarios hicieron lo que muchos sospechaban desde el principio. La tienda, lanzada en 2018, apostó fuerte por regalar juegos semanalmente como método para captar usuarios. Y vaya que funcionó… al menos en números. Millones de personas crearon cuentas, descargaron el launcher y reclamaron títulos sin pagar un centavo. Pero el problema no era atraer gente, sino lograr que se quedaran y, más importante aún, que compraran. --- https://pcgamia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Juegos-Gratis-Epic-Games-2024-IP.jpg --- Aquí es donde entra el golpe de realidad. Según reportes recientes, muchos de esos usuarios simplemente abrían la tienda, reclamaban el juego gratis de la semana… y se iban de vuelta a Steam a seguir comprando como si nada. En otras palabras: Epic creó una enorme base de “usuarios”, pero no necesariamente de clientes. Internamente, esto se empezó a ver como un problema serio. Aunque la plataforma logró cifras llamativas de usuarios activos decenas de millones mensuales, los ingresos por ventas de juegos de terceros no crecieron al mismo ritmo. Y claro, mantener el modelo de regalar juegos constantemente no es precisamente barato. --- https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/indie-picks-summer-2024.jpg?width=1600&height=900&fit=crop&quality=100&format=png&enable=upscale&auto=webp --- Epic ha invertido millones en asegurar esos títulos gratuitos, esperando que eventualmente los usuarios se convirtieran en compradores… algo que, según estos testimonios, no terminó de suceder. El contraste con Steam es clave para entender el asunto. Mientras Epic intentaba competir con precios y regalos, Steam lleva años construyendo algo más parecido a un ecosistema: comunidad, reseñas, foros, logros, mods… una experiencia mucho más completa. Eso hace que, incluso si alguien tiene juegos en Epic, prefiera seguir usando Steam como su plataforma principal. --- https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/header-indies-1920x1080-80fc92f4c79f.jpg --- Al final, la estrategia de los juegos gratis terminó siendo un arma de doble filo. Sí, atrajo a millones de usuarios, pero también educó a esa misma audiencia a no gastar dinero dentro de la plataforma. Como dicen algunos comentarios en internet, Epic “entrenó” a su propia base de usuarios para esperar cosas gratis en lugar de comprarlas. --- https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/egs-free-games-breaker-jan-2024-1920x1080-028e40df3111.jpg?resize=1&w=854&h=480&quality=medium --- Eso no significa que la tienda esté muerta ni mucho menos. Epic sigue teniendo músculo financiero, acuerdos importantes y una base enorme de usuarios registrados. Pero este tipo de revelaciones deja claro que competir contra Steam no es solo cuestión de regalar juegos o bajar comisiones. Se trata de construir hábitos… y cambiar hábitos es mucho más difícil. Así que sí, al final pasó lo que muchos pensaban desde el día uno: la gente vino por lo gratis… y se fue a gastar el dinero en otro lado. Nos descubrieron, muchachos.
![untitled.gif](https://media.tenor.com/u_tgy22DxOsAAAAC/killua-kil.gif)

Hive Gaming

@cocacolaron

Epic exposed us, guys - they’re losing more than they let on with their free games

@awesomegames007

Chivalry 2 - Gotta firmly grasp the highlander!