Exploring the impact and growth of Epic Games Store as it unveils the impressive value of the 86 free games offered last year.
In its fifth year of the free games program, the Epic Games Store treated users to an astonishing $2,055 worth of games in 2023. Originally launched in 2018 to rival Steam, the platform has not only become a key player in game sales but has also secured exclusive releases like Alan Wake 2 and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Amidst its efforts to attract users with exclusive titles, the Epic Games Store continues to entice players by regularly offering a diverse selection of free games.
While the list of complimentary games spans from indies to renowned titles, the Epic Games Store has featured some big names in its giveaways, including Wolfenstein: The New Order, Prey, Shenmue 3, Sonic Mania, and the momentous Grand Theft Auto 5, which temporarily overwhelmed the platform. Epic Games has now disclosed significant insights into its free game offerings from the past year.
In 2023, Epic Games distributed free games with a combined value exceeding $2,000.
The revelation is part of the Epic Games Store Year in Review, shedding light on the platform’s performance. Not only does it unveil the total value, but it also discloses that players claimed these 86 free games almost 586 million times. Some notable highlights from last year’s giveaways include Death Stranding in May, The Evil Within and The Evil Within 2 in October, and The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition in December.
Additional insights from the Epic Games Store Year in Review showcase the platform’s remarkable growth, boasting over 270 million PC users. In terms of spending, PC gamers invested a total of $950 million on the Epic Games Store, marking a significant 16% increase. Third-party PC games, however, experienced a 13% decline, with users spending $310 million. The top games of 2023 in terms of spending and engagement featured Genshin Impact, Rocket League, Dead Island 2, Grand Theft Auto Online, and Fortnite in the highest tier. Destiny 2, despite facing challenges, secured a place in the epic tier.
Entering its sixth year, the free games program of the Epic Games Store demonstrates the platform’s ongoing commitment to users, with notable titles already provided in 2024, including A Plague Tale: Innocence and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. The platform’s generosity shows no signs of slowing down, with Dakar Desert Rally as the current free game, set to be replaced by Super Meat Boy Forever next week.
