Epic Games has been pushing harder into the PC gaming space with the Epic Games Store, eager to catch the heels of Valve and its Steam platform. The process has been as long as it has been frustrating for both sides of the aisle. Now, Epic Games has announced that relief is well in sight.
The Epic Games Store released on December 6, 2018. Shortly thereafter, Epic Games began offering free games to anyone willing to download its launcher, taking advantage of the already-popular Fortnite platform to offer additional titles. Offering a "free game every two weeks" upon launch, consumers began feeling frustrated when Epic Games began purchasing platform-exclusive titles that were announced as arriving to Steam during funding periods, such as with Shenmue 3. Many argued that Epic Games needed to focus on bringing its own platform up to a modern standard, rather than purchasing exclusivity windows.
Now, Epic Games announces that they are launching a social update for the Epic Games Store. The social update will bring a fully-realized party system, player cards for managing friends, a do not disturb mode, and an improved search. Epic Games notes that it is vaulting the whispers function for the time being, as gamers tended to not make use of it. Epic Games notes that it is offering an "early look" at the social system that is coming to the platform, and consistently outlines features as both "upcoming" and "planned."
The resulting question is whether this is enough to help bring Epic Games Store into the modern era, and remove itself from criticism in comparison to more popular platforms. This is the mire that Epic Games has found itself in, and it poses a cultural problem for the company. Epic Games must identify how to circumnavigate decades of PC gaming culture to increase the traction of its new platform. The encroachment into territory that other platforms have occupied for well over a decade brings about the expectation that new platforms will, at the very least, mirror the features in new platforms.
Yet mirroring successful tactics ultimately can fall short, as seen with YouTube Gaming Live attempting to mimic Twitch to the frustration of YouTube streamers. A copy of culture, whether digital or analog, ultimately isn't authentic. As a rendition, it could be passable, but mimicry encourages direct comparisons between the two platforms which would not favor Epic Games at this time. The Epic Games Store needs to separate itself from other platforms, while encouraging unique opportunities and distancing itself from tactics that have frustrated its ideal audience.
Source: Epic Games