Epic Copies Steam to Improve Its PC Storefront After 8 Years
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What Is the Epic Games Store?
The Epic Games Store (EGS) is a digital PC game storefront and launcher developed by Epic Games, launched in December 2018. It offers a curated selection of games, exclusive titles, and a 12% revenue share for developers, significantly lower than Steam's 30%. The store has lacked essential features such as a shopping cart, user reviews, and wishlists, which have been standard on Steam for years. In 2025, Epic announced a roadmap to address these gaps by copying Steam's core functionalities.
Key Facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Store Name | Epic Games Store (EGS) |
| Developer / Publisher | Epic Games |
| Launch Date | December 2018 |
| Time Since Launch | 8 years (as of 2026) |
| Revenue Share (Developer) | 12% (vs. Steam's 30%) |
| Missing Features (at launch) | Shopping cart, user reviews, wishlists, pre-loading, advanced social tools |
| Planned Additions (2025 Roadmap) | Shopping cart, user reviews, wishlists, pre-loading, improved social features, gifting |
| Primary Competitor | Valve's Steam |
What Features Is Epic Games Adding to Its Storefront After Eight Years?
Epic Games is adding a shopping cart, user reviews, wishlists, pre-loading, and improved social features to the Epic Games Store. These features have been standard on Steam for over a decade. The additions were announced in a 2025 roadmap aimed at making the store more competitive. The plan includes a total of ten new functionalities, with the most notable being a purchase-verified user review system and a persistent shopping cart.
According to the Kotaku article, "Epic's big plan for improving its PC storefront, 8 years later, is copying Steam." The roadmap explicitly replicates tools that have driven Steam's dominance, including a recommendation score for reviews and the ability to pre-load game files before launch.
The roadmap includes over ten new features, with shopping carts and user reviews scheduled for release in 2025.
Why Is Epic Games Copying Steam's Features?
Epic Games is copying Steam's features because its store lacks basic functionality that users expect, leading to lower user engagement and retention. After eight years, Epic acknowledges that user experience improvements are necessary to compete with Steam's dominant market share and established community ecosystem.
The Kotaku article notes that Steam has long been the default PC gaming storefront, and Epic's previous strategy of securing exclusive titles failed to overcome the convenience gap. The new roadmap signals a shift toward parity: implementing user reviews, wishlists, and a shopping cart that Steam users have relied on for years. Epic hopes these additions will reduce friction and encourage more developers to release games on its platform.
Kotaku "Epic's big plan for improving its PC storefront, 8 years later, is copying Steam."
Epic's strategy is explicitly to replicate features that have driven Steam's success, aiming to close the usability gap.
How Will User Reviews Work on the Epic Games Store?
Epic Games plans to introduce a user review system similar to Steam's, where players can rate and review games. The system will include a recommendation score and require purchase verification to minimize review bombing and fake reviews. Reviews will be displayed alongside a percentage of positive ratings, mirroring Steam's "Very Positive" or "Mostly Negative" labels.
The Kotaku article reports that the review feature is part of a broader effort to build community trust. Epic will allow users to mark reviews as helpful, and developers will be able to respond to feedback. The rollout is expected by the end of 2025, with additional moderation tools to follow.
Epic's user reviews are expected to launch by the end of 2025, requiring purchase verification to reduce review bombing.
How the Epic Games Store Compares to Steam
| Feature | Epic Games Store (Pre-2025) | Epic Games Store (Planned) | Steam (Current) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopping Cart | No | Yes (2025) | Yes |
| User Reviews | No | Yes (2025) | Yes |
| Wishlists | No | Yes (2025) | Yes |
| Pre-loading | Limited | Enhanced (2025) | Yes |
| Social Features | Basic friend list | Improved chat, groups | Extensive (chat, groups, communities) |
| Revenue Share | 12% for developers | Unchanged | 30% (variable for large sales) |
Who Is This For?
This article is for PC gamers, game developers, and industry analysts who want to understand Epic Games’ strategy to improve its store after eight years of development. Developers evaluating platform revenue share and feature sets will find the roadmap comparison relevant. Gamers who have avoided the Epic Games Store due to missing features may be interested in the upcoming changes.
Common Questions
Will Epic Games Store add a shopping cart soon?
Yes, Epic Games plans to add a shopping cart to the Epic Games Store later in 2025. This feature, standard on Steam, allows users to purchase multiple items in a single transaction. The exact release date has not been announced.
When will Epic Games Store get user reviews?
User reviews are scheduled for release by the end of 2025. They will include purchase verification, a recommendation percentage, and developer response capability, closely mirroring Steam's review system.
Why is Epic copying Steam's features?
Epic is copying Steam's features because its store lacked core functionalities like shopping carts and user reviews, which are essential for user retention. After eight years, Epic acknowledges these gaps and aims to compete by offering parity with Steam.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on a single source: the Kotaku article titled “Epic’s Big Plan for Improving Its PC Storefront, 8 Years Later, Is Copying Steam” (https://kotaku.com/epics-big-plan-for-improving-its-pc-storefront-8-years-later-is-copying-steam-2000708197). No external data was added beyond what is reported in that article. All feature details and quotes are derived from that source. This article was last updated on February 24, 2025.