540°

Epic Games lost almost $181 million & $273 million on EGS in 2019 and 2020, respectively

According to the filling, Epic has lost around $181 million & $273 million on EGS in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

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dsogaming.com
Christopher1485d ago

Same thing Microsoft is doing with GamePass here. Utilizing profit-heavy elements to offset losses on investments in other business areas. Did anyone really expect them to be making tons of money with all the free games they throw out there? Obviously Fortnite is funding their foothold here.

Too bad Epic can't lose $10 million more to improve the store with features that have been on Steam (and GOG) for ages now.

VenomUK1485d ago (Edited 1485d ago )

The losses are most likely to be from the expense of including the weekly free games and the great costs incurred from paying the developers. But it’s biting it with the hope of growing consumer loyalty so in the long run it can be profitable.

1485d ago
mudakoshaka1485d ago

@JustTheFax

Hahaha, at first I thought your post was one of those spam posts that you see here all the time. You know, "I have earned $2000 in one week working from home".

Michiel19891484d ago

@fax well you did sell your soul to the devil, divine punishment will come in time ;)

Terry_B1484d ago

did not happen..won#t happen since too many of us are loyal to Steam and are just having egs accounts for the free games without buying anything there

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1484d ago
Jin_Sakai1485d ago

At least they will become profitable in a few years.

“New court documents reveal that the Epic Games Store is expected to be profitable by 2023 and has spent over $700 million in revenue share to developers.“

luckytrouble1485d ago

I'd like to know where this sharp swing from big loss to profit is supposed to come from. I would imagine the expectation is that they'll dial back the free games and try to get those only there for the freebies to become actual customers, but my stance from the start has been that no strings attached free games won't build a customer base. With that in mind, I'd wager Epic has put themselves in a bad place to turn around the money bleeding EGS.

crazyCoconuts1485d ago

@lucky, I agree, the big ticket free games had to hurt. There aren't as many of those today and I expect they'll continue to diminish. And I don't know how much the exclusives for a year costs them but I think they need to keep doing that to survive against Steam.

Rachel_Alucard1485d ago

@lucky
They probably think that people will just start sticking to the service when they've given 0 incentive for anyone to do so. Free games and timed exclusivity and people still avoid them like the plague. If you read the suit, the way Epic speaks and talks they talk as if they expected Apple to just bend over when the lawsuit happened. They also expected a bunch of children to root for them online but nobody cared. This pompous out of touch ego is whats going to kill their store and leadership.

anubusgold1485d ago

It makes me vomit every time i have to open epics stupid store.

RauLeCreuset1484d ago

"Epic expects its store to turn a profit in 2023, though this sounds like an optimistic scenario."

Keywords, "Epic expects." This is based on an Epic court filing. It's going to steer more toward optimism than realism.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1484d ago
agnosticgamer1485d ago (Edited 1485d ago )

Except Phil Spencer has stated GamePass is completely sustainable business as it stands. I’m not sure you can exactly lump that in as given it’s losing money.

waderae1485d ago

Phil Spencer says a lot of things.

crazyCoconuts1485d ago

"We’re definitely investing in it, but not investing in a way that’s unsustainable."
That's in no way saying it's profitable right now. If you read between the lines, he's actually saying the opposite. I'm sure they have a plan to make it profitable in the future, just like Epic does...

Rachel_Alucard1485d ago

@crazycoconuts

It's crazy how twisted that statement is when PR falls back to fallacy statements. You can say anything, and then when people repeat it back later suddenly it's exactly what he wanted people to think without ever needing to lie about it.

1485d ago
agnosticgamer1485d ago

So all you console warriors talking smack really can't point to any factual evidence. A sustainable business is not a business that is losing money.

But Spencer reassured listeners that the Xbox Games Pass is “completely sustainable” at its current cost, and there are no plans for a price increase anytime soon. “I say there’s no plan for us to do anything like that. We like the value that Game Pass is today and from a business model it’s completely sustainable the way it is and I mean that,” he said.

For a business model to be completely sustainable just the way it is... it cannot be bleeding money, because bleeding money is not sustainable. And I said you cannot automatically just lump it in as a business that loses money, none of you have presented any evidence that it is losing money as it currently stands... And that was my point.

Christopher1484d ago

Being sustainable means they as a company can afford to pay for it. It in no way means it is making them any profit.

Terry_B1484d ago

Why would anyone trust Phil Spencer?

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 1484d ago
crazyCoconuts1485d ago

They've got a long way to go to match Steam. And it's not like steam is standing still either...

Magog1485d ago

Yes, I'm sure Microsoft's losses are even higher giving away more games for $1/mo.

agnosticgamer1485d ago

@Magog,

Do you have the conversion rate of how many of those people flipped to a subscription? If you do please post them... I'm guessing you don't?

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1484d ago
rlow11485d ago

Wow, didn't expect to see such high loses. But like everything, you have to pay to play, especially with the big boys.

Vits1485d ago

That is a bit surprising. Because while it was pretty obvious that they weren't making money with third party sales - their last earning report point out to something close to 30M (before tax) in 2020 coming from third party games, that get even lower after factoring the 23M that Epic gave away in the form of coupons - anyone would assume that their own games would still be able to foot the bill. Given that they are more than 60% of the total store revenue and contrary to third party software EGS is not restricted to only 12% of their revenue.

But if this reports are to be believed. And look like they are. In 2020 alone the EGS costed almost 1B to run.

anast1485d ago

I stopped using EPIC because there was an error that wouldn't let me login for a month.

phoenixwing1485d ago

I have to say when it comes to pc gaming, steam is the only reliable storefront for me. I've had some issue or other on all the other platforms that stopped me from accessing games at some point. I'm not talking about consoles here.

anast1485d ago

GoG has been solid for me. I have most of my games there with some Total War stuff on Steam, because I can't get them at GoG.

phoenixwing1485d ago

Anast
Even gog messed up on me with an update making it so my baldurs gate 3 game wouldn't recognize for some reason and the cyberpunk 2077 pre order pre download glitched where it wouldn't unlock the game. Had to rebut both on steam. Everything else on gog works right now though that I downloaded

1484d ago
iwin861485d ago

Giving games like GTA V for free is expensive.

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90°

10 Games That Owe Their Success To PS Plus

Who would have thought that giving games away for free would be so lucrative?

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dualshockers.com
250°

Microsoft CEO Boasts Gaming Success Across Xbox, PlayStation, PC Game Pass, and More

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella shared a bullish report on the performance of the Xbox gaming business also on PlayStation.

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simulationdaily.com
3d ago
Christopher3d ago

I'm kind of hoping they drop most hardware support here with a 'good enough console' next generation and focus more on being a publisher. Obviously that is doing well for them and they can still push cloud gaming since it's going to tons of smart TVS and devices. They're now the largest video game publisher in the world, if they aren't doing the most sales and pre-orders, then they would be in trouble. They aren't.

Lightning772d ago

They're gonna try again with a new gen console. If they want to compete they need to actually be competive. Say games like Halo, Blade Elder Scrolls or whatever big game it is. Needs to only be on Xbox and PC. If those games go multiplat it needs to be after a few years or at least a year later definitely not 6 months as a good portion of ppl will wait. Knowing MS they'll probably try and compete, then when things don't go there way they pivot and change the metrics again.

crazyCoconuts2d ago

I don't think you're reading the tea leaves here. Leadership hasn't used the word "exclusive" in quite a while, and they're now boasting about PS sales. They're probably done with consoles and exclusive at this point.

DodoDojo2d ago

I don't think they'll try. They have been beating a dead horse for so long now and they have finally realized it isn't going nowhere.

Fearmonkey2d ago

MS is going to drop being hardware exclusive, they are going publisher and subscription. You will be able to buy a Xbox, but you will be able to play on any platform, that's their new goal. After the hit with Oblivion remastered and major sales on PS5, no more Xbox/PC exclusives long term..

rlow12d ago

I think with the latest price hike on their console, they’re well on their way to axing hardware.

Christopher2d ago

Hardware axing entirely is bad news. They've sold most of their hardware on the Series S this generation. I think if they capture a lower hardware market that can still buy games (especially on sale), they'll actually hit a good market considering how the economy is going. Especially in the U.S. People are going to want to keep gaming and streaming isn't that good for online gaming at all.

Lightning772d ago

@crazy they've stated multiple times they're going another gen. The next gen Controller even got leaked.

Tired of repeating myself whenever it comes to this subject of Xbox having another gen.

IRetrouk2d ago

Xbox consoles are done, all we gonna get is some branded 3rd party shite at best, ms aint interested in being a console manufacturer no more, this much is obvious.

hiawa232d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Microsoft has too much money for that. They are rumored to release a PC/console hybrid in 2026. They will push all you hope as a publisher while having new hardware next year, so the games will appear on their platform and every other platform which is good to me if the goal is to sell software. If that is where the money is why would anyone fault MS for that? The prices are going to be insane for the next PlayStation and console from Microsoft, though, but it is what they voted for, so this is what we got.

Profchaos1d 18h ago

I think they have to at this point I'm sure they are developing new hardware because they still have to team on payroll but it's absolutely a hail mary play.

They want to try and shift the console to be more like a PC so development costs are drastically reduced you don't need your trams to develop a Xbox version if the PC version will already run jon your console ust have it preconfigured with the graphical settings to make it seem less PC like and job done using uwp apps.

I can see it working for a few years but eventually there will be problems like with the series s as pc hardware typically ages out faster than console hardware I guess the jury's out on how it goes when your console is forced architecture will it still be a development target 5 years later will it slow PC hardware growth if games have to account for such weak hardware 7 years on

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1d 18h ago
Obscure_Observer2d ago

“We continue to transform the business and focus on margin expansion as we bring our games to over 500 million monthly active users across devices. We ended the quarter as the top publisher by pre-orders and pre-installs on both Xbox and PlayStation Store.”

Amazing news!

Xbox reigning within rival territory.

Big slap in the face of haters who used to crap on Xbox´s games and its quality.

IAMRealHooman2d ago

........you must be part owl, you keep 180ing, your position.

-Foxtrot2d ago

One minute he says that they will NEVER go third party

Now he's all for it like this was Microsofts grand master plan all along.

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

@-Foxtrot

"One minute he says that they will NEVER go third party"

Fact.

"Now he's all for it like this was Microsofts grand master plan all along."

False.

Never said it was Microsoft´s master plan all along. But it is REALLY working for us, as the fact that you´ll be able to enjoy Xbox gamers isn´t killing us. Rather the contrary, we are happy that everybody is funding our games on Gamepass.

Specially now with the imminent new $80 price tag for Xbox first party games.

It is what it is.

IAMRealHooman1d 16h ago

So xbox division can't afford to fund new xbox games on GP subscribers alone?
ooooh your in trouble imma tell papa phil and he's gonna take away your xbox card

IAMRealHooman2d ago

how about that massive price hike?

Relientk772d ago

He loves it. Now he gets to support the trillion dollar company even more by giving them more of his money.

Reaper22_2d ago

I agree.. great news for Microsoft and tbe xbox brand. Your Playstation is now a xbox. Microsoft wasn't kidding around when they said xbox will be everywhere. Now they are laughing all the way to the bank. Imo sony needs to do similar things. They're putting their biggest titles on PC. Might as well bring them over to other consoles too. They aren't making much on console sales.

IAMRealHooman2d ago

Of course MS wants PlayStation owners, their is literally twice as many of them.

andy852d ago

Theres been one game in the last few years that's been good. Indy. Long way to go before you start talking about their games and their quality

Bathyj2d ago

Xbox gamers really are the strangest demographic. Not so long ago you are all saying PlayStation isn't the competition Amazon is because Phil said so. You love to parrot what your corporate talking say. That wasn't actually true Xbox and PlayStation were in direct competition but because Xbox was losing so badly Phil had to act like they weren't.

Cut to present day and Xbox and PlayStation aren't competition because Xbox has no hardware presence it's zero. In fact Microsoft is now a third party publisher and they need PlayStation they don't need Xbox or Xbox gamers they need PlayStation gamers and PC gamers and mobile phone gamers and switch gamers.

You're here cheering for the fact you've become irrelevant because you think it's important that your uncle Phil is making money. You think PlayStation gamers are upset if Microsoft releases more good games in a year than sony does. when Microsoft makes a good game you shout take that playstation!

PlayStation gamers simply say thank you I will third party publisher that makes me games

Reaper22_2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I think you're confused. Microsoft never saw Sony as their biggest competitor. They've reiterated it for years. Sony is doing the same thing by putting their biggest franchises on PC, which is OK with Microsoft. Their will be more playstaion games coming to Microsoft ecosystems. Maybe not to xbox consoles but playstation won't be the only place you can play their games. Kind of how it is now. I would bet that they are making plans to do just that but they probably fear the backlash from their fanbase which is silly because noone is gonna stop playing games just because it's on on another platform.

Obscure_Observer2d ago

"Cut to present day and Xbox and PlayStation aren't competition because Xbox has no hardware presence it's zero."

If that was remotely true you wouldn´t be so mad about Xbox gamers getting day one games on Gamepass that you have to pay full price for.

"PlayStation gamers simply say thank you I will third party publisher that makes me games"

And we´re thankful for Playstation gamers supporting Xbox games funding our day one games on Gamepass.

Like I said: Everybody wins.

gold_drake2d ago

i agree
my friend is also xbox everything, hes the same weird guy ha

gold_drake2d ago

propaganda again?

arent u tired of it yet?

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 1d 16h ago
MrDead2d ago

We brought two of the biggest publishers in the world, cost thousands of people their livelihoods and consolidated a huge part of the industry, look how successful we are at gaming!

crazyCoconuts2d ago

Top Secret Strategy for How to Become the Biggest Publisher in the World:
1. Buy everybody

The3faces2d ago

And this has been standard business practice in every industry. Don't hate the player hate the game! lol

Reaper22_2d ago

Buy everybody....if you can.

Obscure_Observer2d ago

I have no doubt that the vast majority of developers and studios will be looking at Microsoft as far job security is a concern.

Microsoft will allow its studios to release their games to every single platform, which means more investment on new games, more money, more jobs positions, better payment, benefits and recognition among gamers worldwide.

You though MS would crash and burn

You want MS to leave gaming forever but GAMERS clearly wants otherwise.

You said MS doesn´t know how to make great games but Xbox games dominating sales on Playstation clearly says otherwise.

Now you also have Playstation gamers to blame for helping the rich to get richer.

I warned you. You were on a fool´s errand all the time.

Now all you can do is watch as MS and Xbox gaming grows bigger and better than ever and release games for everyone!

crazyCoconuts2d ago

At the end of this road, Bethesda, Activision, etc, will still be releasing games for everyone and Xbox consoles will be no more.

If that's what you claim to have foreseen, then congratulations, you win.

MrDead2d ago

You think three major publishers no longer competing and thousands fired to feed the piggies at MS is a good thing, I don't.

More and more owned by fewer and fewer is what you're cheering for, all that leads to is $80 first party games kid.

Luc202d ago

When you have to say that something was a success, it means it wasn't

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50°

From Arcade to Digital Distribution: PM Studios' CEO Reflects on 20 Years in the Industry

In a Game Rant interview, PM Studios CEO Michael Yum talks about his long career, his involvement in LvL Up Expo, and more.

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gamerant.com