Epic Games announces the Epic First Run program, offering developers 100% of net revenue for six months if they launch games exclusively on the Epic Games Store
Games and apps in the Epic First Run program will also benefit from extra exposure on the storefront.
Context & Ripple Effects
Epic has been building the store’s developer proposition from its original 88% revenue share to self-publishing at a 12% commission. First Run adds a time-limited, exclusivity-based layer to that strategy rather than changing the standard store terms.
The offer matters because it trades a larger share of initial sales and added visibility for a developer’s decision to withhold a new PC release from other storefronts during its launch window.
First-order effects
- Developers that choose Epic Games Store exclusivity can retain 100% of net revenue for their first six months and receive extra storefront promotion.
- Epic gives up its near-term share of participating titles’ sales in exchange for a more differentiated launch catalogue.
Second-order effects
- Developers must weigh the improved economics and visibility against the audience and sales they may forgo by delaying availability on rival PC storefronts—an exclusivity-for-revenue trade-off built into the program.
- Other PC game stores face added pressure to compete through commercial terms, promotion, or catalogue access when seeking the same launch titles.
Third-order effects
- The program points toward storefront competition being fought not only on headline commission rates but on targeted incentives tied to launch timing and exclusivity.
- If such offers proliferate, game distribution could become more fragmented around release windows, with developers pricing in the opportunity cost of each platform commitment.
The trend: PC game storefronts are increasingly using tailored revenue-sharing and visibility incentives to secure scarce new-release exclusivity.