Subject: Re: Epic's 'it's all for the developers' doesn't seem to be impressing the developers

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.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.17
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Subject: Re: Epic's 'it's all for the developers' doesn't seem to be impressing the developers

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.



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.17
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)