From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

On Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:47:15 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> said this thing:

But Epic has announced that their EGS client will be getting an
overhaul.* Will they finally create a viable competitor to Steam,
making it feature-comparable?

Maybe Epic is (finally) listening? Here are some features that will
reportedly* be added to the Epic GameStore client 'over the next 12
months'.

- Profiles and Avatars
- Written reviews
- Universal Controller support
- Spec benchmarking (using hardware and the games spec sheet?)
- Third Party Communities (forums??)
- Third Party Patch Notes
- Cross Region gifting
- Publisher Funded Coupons

Some of these I am very much in support of (forums, user reviews),
others I don't care much about (coupons, gifting, avatars), and yet
others I can't believe aren't included already (specs, controller
support).

It's really the user reviews (and forums) that interest me most. The
Epic Game Store is incredibly information-light on what a game is
really like, and user reviews are really useful in finding out whether
a game is something to grab or avoid. It's also quite surprising to
see it on the list, since it was something Epic was for a long time
quite adamant about not adding to their storefront.

Then again, the list says 'written reviews' but that doesn't actually
mean USER reviews, so maybe it'll just be reposted articles from
websites that post favorable reviews on a game.

Forums would be a welcome addition too. Not only is it a useful source
of information about the games, but it's a good way to troubleshoot
technical issues both with other players and the developers. It really
is a must-have for any game-client. But because it -like user reviews-
allows players to vent their frustrations and expand upon problems a
game might have (which might prevent new sales) Epic was vocally
against the idea when asked about it earlier. But I guess the nearly non-existant sales on EGS (and flagging profits from Fortnite) are
making them reconsider this policy.

Even with these all additions, the Epic GameStore client will still be significantly behind in features to Steam but at least Epic is moving
in the right direction. Whether they will continue in this direction
and actually become a viable competitor to Valve remains to be seen
(and, honestly, I don't really see it happening given Epic's past
history) but it's better than their previous strategy of trying to
adjudicate their way to success.





* reddit saw it first https://www.reddit.com/r/EpicGamesPC/comments/1u9bkk1/epic_games_store_roadmap_for_2026_and_more/
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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

On Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:48:59 -0400, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:47:15 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson ><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> said this thing:

But Epic has announced that their EGS client will be getting an
overhaul.* Will they finally create a viable competitor to Steam,
making it feature-comparable?

Maybe Epic is (finally) listening? Here are some features that will >reportedly* be added to the Epic GameStore client 'over the next 12
months'.

- Profiles and Avatars
- Written reviews
- Universal Controller support
- Spec benchmarking (using hardware and the games spec sheet?)
- Third Party Communities (forums??)
- Third Party Patch Notes
- Cross Region gifting
- Publisher Funded Coupons

How about opening the damn thing to my GAMES instead of the STORE?
--
Zag

Give me the liberty to know, to think, to believe,
and to utter freely according to conscience, above
all other liberties. ~John Milton
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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

On 6/20/2026 7:56 AM, Zaghadka wrote:

On Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:48:59 -0400, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:47:15 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> said this thing:

But Epic has announced that their EGS client will be getting an
overhaul.* Will they finally create a viable competitor to Steam,
making it feature-comparable?

Maybe Epic is (finally) listening? Here are some features that will
reportedly* be added to the Epic GameStore client 'over the next 12
months'.

- Profiles and Avatars
- Written reviews
- Universal Controller support
- Spec benchmarking (using hardware and the games spec sheet?)
- Third Party Communities (forums??)
- Third Party Patch Notes
- Cross Region gifting
- Publisher Funded Coupons

How about opening the damn thing to my GAMES instead of the STORE?

Hey, a company has to have priorities! :)
--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.
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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

On Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:01:26 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> said this thing:

On 6/20/2026 7:56 AM, Zaghadka wrote:

On Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:48:59 -0400, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

Maybe Epic is (finally) listening? Here are some features that will
reportedly* be added to the Epic GameStore client 'over the next 12
months'.

How about opening the damn thing to my GAMES instead of the STORE?

Hey, a company has to have priorities! :)

It's amazing how many companies make this mistake, and yes it
absolutely shows that their priority is not to make a product people
want to use, but something that will first and foremost sell you
stuff. And from an immediate 'does this improve the bottom line over
showing the library first', I have no doubt that this technique works.

But at the same time, it doesn't inspire return visits because it's
extra friction added to the process (not just the extra clicks, but it
makes the gamer feel like they are viewed only as a source of
revenue). It's user-hostile, and people pick up on that. Your client
becomes something they HAVE to use, not want to... and thus they only
open it when forced, and not for its own utility.

Out of curiosity, I launched several clients to see which would
remember your preference of launching to the game library screen.


Steam: Yes (set in options)
Epic: No (& has option to disable library entirely)
EA: No (does not remember, no option in settings)
GOG: Yes (and has an option to hide the store!)
UPlay: No (does not remember, no option in settings)
Amazon: No (no settings either)
Itch: Yes (no option, just seems to remember last page)
Battlenet: did not check (not installed)
Humble: did not check (paused my subs)



TL;DR: if you want your client to compete with Steam, make it as good
as Steam.


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