Why Avoid Epic Games? A Deep Dive into the Controversies and Concerns
The Epic Games Store has carved out a significant place in the PC gaming landscape, largely due to its aggressive strategy of offering free games and securing exclusive titles. However, despite these enticements, there are several compelling reasons why many gamers choose to avoid the Epic Games platform. These concerns go beyond simple brand loyalty to Steam, encompassing issues related to consumer practices, security, store functionality, and business ethics. While Epic has made strides in some areas, the persistent issues and controversies make a compelling case for exercising caution.
Lackluster Store Functionality and User Experience
One of the most consistent criticisms of the Epic Games Store is its inferior functionality compared to Steam. While Steam offers a robust suite of features, including user reviews, community forums, a mod workshop, and detailed game profiles, the Epic Games Store feels comparatively barebones. Key features such as user reviews and community discussions were missing for a long time, and while some features have been added they are generally less robust and more simplistic. This lack of basic functionality can make it harder to discover new games, assess the quality of titles, and interact with other players.
The store’s search and discovery systems are also frequently criticized for being inadequate, making it difficult to find specific games or browse by genre. This can be a frustrating experience, especially for gamers who are used to the intuitive browsing options available on competing platforms. In contrast, Steam’s powerful algorithms offer recommendations and a much wider range of sorting options which aids in discoverability. This difference in quality leads to a less satisfying user experience on the Epic Games Store, leaving players feeling more isolated and unable to make informed purchases.
Concerns Over Exclusivity and Anti-Consumer Practices
Epic Games’ aggressive strategy of securing timed-exclusivity deals has become a significant point of contention among gamers. While such deals may benefit Epic and the game developers, they often come at the expense of consumers. Many gamers feel that these deals limit their choice and force them to use a platform they may not prefer, simply to play a particular game. This practice is often viewed as anti-consumer and creates a fragmented PC gaming marketplace, where consumers may be forced to use multiple stores to play the games they want.
The argument against exclusivity isn’t just about convenience. It also affects the community aspects of gaming. Games released on multiple platforms tend to build stronger player bases, and exclusive deals often hinder this natural growth. This lack of a unified community is a source of frustration for many gamers who enjoy social interactions within their favorite games.
Privacy and Data Security Issues
While Epic Games claims to have strong security practices, several incidents in its history have raised serious concerns about user privacy and data security. A security flaw in January 2019 exposed 200 million Fortnite players to potential hacking, underscoring the platform’s vulnerability. Although there have been no major reported breaches since then, this incident has lingered in the minds of many users.
Furthermore, the involvement of Tencent, a Chinese investment company with a 40% stake in Epic Games, raises additional concerns. While the majority shareholder remains the American founder Tim Sweeney, some users are wary of the influence a Chinese-based company might have on user data. Such concerns aren’t unique to Epic Games, but they do contribute to an overall sense of unease.
Financial Performance and Sustainability
Epic Games’ financial performance has also raised questions regarding the long-term viability of its current business model. While the company reported a gross profit of $1.19 billion in 2021, that represents a 28.74% decrease from the previous year. A decline in gross profit from a high of $3.7 billion in 2018 demonstrates a potentially unsustainable business strategy. A large portion of their costs are tied to funding exclusivity deals and the free game program, which, while attracting new users, appears to be a costly endeavor.
Additionally, the lack of many of Steam’s key features has hurt Epic’s ability to generate revenue from the secondary revenue streams such as mod workshops. This also further reduces the overall user experience and leads to fewer sales of games on the platform in comparison to its competitors.
Ethical Concerns and Past Missteps
Epic Games has not been without its share of ethical concerns. In December of 2022, the company had to pay a $520 million settlement to the US government due to allegations of misleading millions of players into making unintended purchases, some of whom were minors. This lawsuit further damages the trustworthiness of the company. Such past missteps contribute to a sense of distrust among some users, who may be wary of engaging with the platform further.
The ongoing legal battle over the in-app payment system for “Fortnite” with Apple and Google, further highlights Epic Games’ willingness to engage in aggressive tactics, regardless of who is affected. These legal disputes leave many people questioning the ethics of some of the actions Epic has taken.
Conclusion: Is Avoiding Epic Games the Right Choice?
While the Epic Games Store offers free games and occasionally secures notable exclusive titles, the platform is plagued with issues relating to user experience, questionable exclusivity practices, and security concerns, as well as financial performance and past controversies. Many players choose to avoid the platform because of a combination of these factors, opting for platforms that offer a more robust user experience. The decision to avoid Epic Games ultimately comes down to individual priorities, but the points raised above offer a compelling case for many who prefer alternative platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is the Epic Games Store unsafe?
The Epic Games Store itself is not inherently unsafe as a program to launch games. There’s no evidence to suggest it steals credit information, or is a virus. However, there have been instances of vulnerabilities and potential data breaches, which does make some people wary. It is important to ensure you only download the launcher from the official website.
2. Why is the Epic Games Store so bad?
The Epic Games Store is often criticized for its limited functionality, compared to Steam, such as a lack of user reviews, forums, and a more robust search. Also, the exclusivity strategy implemented by Epic has annoyed many users.
3. Does Epic Games steal your data?
There is no substantial evidence to suggest that Epic Games actively steals users’ data in a malicious way. There have been security breaches however, which makes people hesitant to provide their personal information. As with all online services, it’s important to be vigilant regarding your personal data.
4. Is Epic Games a Chinese company?
Epic Games is not a Chinese company, but it does have a significant investment from Tencent, a Chinese technology and entertainment company, which owns approximately 40% of the company’s stock. The majority owner remains American CEO Tim Sweeney.
5. Is Epic Games Store better than Steam?
Whether Epic Games is better than Steam is subjective and depends on what you value. Steam offers a much larger library, a more established community, and better functionality, while Epic Games often offers free games and exclusive titles. Steam is often viewed as the better overall platform for many users.
6. Is the Epic Games launcher safe?
The Epic Games launcher is generally considered safe as a program for launching games. Like other platforms, it requires permissions, but there’s no evidence to suggest it’s malicious. However, users should always practice caution when installing any software.
7. Why does everyone hate Epic Games?
Many gamers dislike Epic Games due to its aggressive exclusivity deals, which can prevent games from being released on other platforms, along with the lack of robust features in its store compared to platforms like Steam. These factors contribute to a sense of mistrust among many users.
8. Does Epic still give free games?
Yes, the Epic Games Store continues to offer free games regularly. It’s a strategy to attract new users, and the company has stated this will continue through 2023 and beyond.
9. Why did Epic Games remove Fortnite from the app stores?
Epic Games removed Fortnite from the App Store and Google Play due to a dispute over in-app purchase fees. They implemented a system to bypass the 30% commission, leading to their removal from the platforms. The fight is ongoing as of late 2023.
10. How many people use the Epic Games Store?
There are now over 230 million Epic Games Store PC users and a total of 723 million Epic cross-platform accounts. This number has increased significantly since 2021, which indicates a continued adoption of the platform.
11. Has Epic Games been hacked?
The most significant security breach at Epic Games was in January 2019, which exposed about 200 million Fortnite players to potential hacking. There have been no reported breaches since then, but this prior incident remains a concern.
12. Why are Epic Games exclusives bad for consumers?
Exclusive deals limit consumer choice and force players to use a specific platform, regardless of their preference. This fragmentation of the PC gaming marketplace is often seen as anti-consumer. The resulting weaker community aspect is also a factor for many people.
13. Is Fortnite losing popularity?
While Fortnite has seen some fluctuations, it has never truly lost its appeal, largely due to regular updates and collaborations. The game still has a significant player base with millions of daily users.
14. What games is Epic shutting down?
Epic Games has shut down servers for certain older games, including titles like 1000 Tiny Claws, Dance Central 1-3, and Rock Band 1-3. These shutdowns are due to the age of the games and server maintenance costs.
15. Is Epic Games profitable?
Epic Games’ profitability is questionable given that the gross profits have gone down since 2018. Despite the $1.19 billion in 2021 profit, the company still operates at a loss when considering the costs of operation and game deals. Their long term profitability is still to be determined.