Analyst doubts Epic Games Store can recover against Steam

Emmanuel Rosier, director of market intelligence at the analyst firm Newzoo, has expressed doubt that the Epic Games Store can recover against Steam's dominant position in the PC gaming market. In interviews published on August 23 and 24, 2026, Rosier stated that he does not see how Epic can turn its storefront around, arguing that "Steam has become so inevitable." His comments came as Valve's Steam platform celebrated its 30th anniversary on August 24, 2026.

Rosier's analysis centers on the challenge of converting Epic's large user base into consistent engagement. He noted that while the Epic Games Store attracts players with free game giveaways, many users simply log in to claim the titles without playing them, treating it as "collecting games rather than actually playing them." He suggested this behavior can even boost a game's sales on Steam, as players prefer not to fragment their libraries across launchers.

Furthermore, Rosier critiqued Epic Games' broader corporate strategy, claiming the company has tried to "win everywhere" by battling competitors on multiple fronts, including Steam, Apple, and Google Play. He argued this multi-front approach may have spread Epic too...