Where Does the Epic Games Store Fit in the Future of Cloud Gaming?

18 December 2024

Cloud gaming has been the talk of the town in the gaming industry for a while now. With big players like Xbox Cloud Gaming, NVIDIA GeForce Now, and PlayStation Plus Cloud Streaming leading the charge, it's clear the era of downloading games and waiting for updates is slowly giving way to instant-access gaming. But amidst these giants, there’s one question gamers can’t help wondering: where does the Epic Games Store fit in the future of cloud gaming?

Let’s dive deeper into this.

The Rise of Cloud Gaming: A Quick Overview

Before we tackle the Epic Games Store, let’s set the stage with cloud gaming itself. Imagine playing your favorite game on any device — no expensive PC hardware, no gigantic downloads, just instant gameplay streaming directly to your screen. That’s cloud gaming in a nutshell.

Think of it like Netflix, but for video games. Instead of owning physical or digital copies of games, you’re streaming them over the internet. It’s convenient, promising, and, let’s be honest, a little intimidating for traditional platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store.

With projections estimating the cloud gaming market to grow into a multi-billion-dollar industry in the next decade, it's no surprise that gaming companies are scrambling to claim their slice of the pie. But how does a platform like the Epic Games Store, built on the traditional model of downloadable games, adapt to this shift?

Epic Games Store: A Big Player in the Traditional Model

Launched in December 2018, the Epic Games Store (EGS) entered the gaming world with a bang, offering what Steam never did — a better revenue split for developers (88% to developers, 12% to Epic). This bold move earned them applause from indie developers and AAA studios alike.

But let’s face it — the thing that really got gamers hooked? The free games. Yes, those sweet, sweet free weekly games have made EGS a household name. Combine that with exclusives like Fortnite, Borderlands 3, and Mortal Shell, and it’s clear why millions of players have the platform installed.

However, here’s the kicker: EGS is still very much rooted in traditional gaming. You buy a game, download it, and play it locally on your hardware. With the gaming industry shifting gears toward cloud gaming, will Epic pivot or risk falling behind?

Epic Games Store and Cloud Gaming: A Missing Puzzle Piece?

As of now, the Epic Games Store hasn’t made any moves to jump headfirst into cloud gaming. Unlike Xbox, which offers its Game Pass subscription bundled with cloud streaming, or Nvidia’s GeForce Now, which lets you play PC games via the cloud, EGS seems to be sitting on the sidelines.

But why the hesitation? Well, there are a few reasons.

1. Fortnite First, Cloud Later

Let’s be real — Fortnite is Epic's golden goose. The battle royale juggernaut continues to rake in billions, and cross-platform play is already one of its strengths. Epic might feel no immediate pressure to jump into cloud gaming when Fortnite dominates across consoles, PCs, and mobile devices.

Could they add cloud functionality to Fortnite down the line? Sure! But for now, their focus seems to be on keeping Fortnite players happy and invested in the ecosystem.

2. Lack of Infrastructure

Launching a full-blown cloud gaming platform is no joke. The infrastructure demands are massive. Just look at Google Stadia, which failed to live up to expectations despite Google’s deep pockets.

Epic might not have the server farms or global network infrastructure needed to compete with the likes of Microsoft or Amazon. Building this from scratch would require a ton of investment, and let’s not forget cloud gaming itself is still in its teen years — promising, but far from perfect.

3. Third-Party Friends

Here’s a twist: Epic Games Store games are technically on a cloud platform — just not theirs. Nvidia’s GeForce Now supports a selection of EGS titles, letting you stream games you already own. This partnership essentially gives Epic a backdoor into cloud gaming without the headache of building a service themselves.

In other words, why bother reinventing the wheel when you can let NVIDIA do the heavy lifting?

The Opportunities Ahead

All that being said, the future doesn’t have to be "cloudy" (pun intended) for the Epic Games Store. In fact, Epic is uniquely positioned to thrive in cloud gaming if it plays its cards right.

1. Leveraging Unreal Engine

Epic owns Unreal Engine, one of the most popular game engines on the planet. Imagine if they somehow optimized Unreal Engine for cloud-based gaming development. They could push for games built on Unreal to be more cloud-compatible, making their platform a go-to destination for both developers and players in the cloud gaming space.

2. Exclusive Content on the Cloud

Epic already has a knack for securing exclusives. What if they used that same strategy to create cloud-only experiences? Picture an exclusive cloud-native Fortnite spin-off or a new title designed for instant accessibility without downloads.

3. Subscription Models

Let’s talk business models. Epic currently offers free weekly games, but what if they introduced a subscription service with perks like cloud access? This could give them a competitive edge against services like Xbox Game Pass while leveraging their massive library of indie and AAA titles.

Challenges Epic Faces in the Cloud Gaming Space

Let’s not kid ourselves — it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. While the potential opportunities are exciting, the challenges are equally daunting.

1. Stiff Competition

The competition in cloud gaming is fierce. Between Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming, Sony’s PlayStation Plus Cloud, Amazon Luna, and even Google’s soon-to-be-reimagined ventures, Epic is entering a battlefield filled with seasoned warriors. Breaking into this space would require some big, bold moves.

2. Player Trust

The Epic Games Store has had its fair share of criticism — buggy features, limited functionality compared to Steam, and a lack of user-friendly tools. If they were to launch a cloud gaming platform without ironing out these issues, they’d risk alienating their core audience.

3. The Waiting Game

Lastly, cloud gaming, while promising, isn’t quite the norm yet. Internet speeds and data caps in many places still make it impractical for the average player. Epic might be choosing to wait until the tech catches up before diving in.

Could Cloud Gaming Fit into Epic’s Long Game?

At the end of the day, Epic Games isn’t necessarily in a rush. They’re playing the long game. By focusing on what they do best — premium exclusives, player-centric offers, and developer-first thinking — they’re patiently positioning themselves for whatever the future holds.

Could they surprise us in a few years with a fully-fledged cloud gaming platform? Absolutely. Or maybe they'll continue to rely on partnerships like GeForce Now for cloud functionality while doubling down on Fortnite, Unreal Engine, and their loyal base of EGS users.

One thing's for sure: whatever move Epic Games makes, it’ll shake up the industry. They didn’t just step onto the scene to play; they came to win.