The Epic Games Store is now seven years old since its launch. From its original digital game platform with PC as its core and aiming to challenge Steam, to its gradual expansion into the iOS and Android mobile ecosystems in recent years, Epic has been trying to create a cross-platform and cross-device open game market. Today, Epic Games has released its latest annual review report, which not only discusses the results in 2025, but also reveals the major directions and strategies for 2026, outlining the store’s development blueprint for the next year.
Epic Games is rebuilding the launcher to make it “comfortable to use”
Epic inReportemphasized that the core goal in 2026 is to “launch features that players have long awaited and further deepen the platform experience.” This means that the Epic Games Store will usher in a series of structural upgrades, ranging from the underlying architecture to social functions.
First, Epic plans to roll out a store architecture update for PC this summer. This upgrade is designed to improve the overall performance of the launcher, making the store interface more responsive and smoother. Epic said the updated launcher will have faster loading speeds and greater stability, allowing players to have a smoother experience when browsing, purchasing, or launching games. For players who have relied on Epic Launcher for a long time, this improvement has been long-awaited.
In addition to performance improvements, Epic also revealed that it is building a new “social space.” This feature will provide players with personalized avatars and profiles, and support cross-platform communication. The initial version will focus on text chat, but Epic has planned to add voice chat and a party system in subsequent updates to make it easier for players to team up, communicate, and collaborate across devices. This means that Epic is gradually transforming the store from a simple purchase platform into a game community center with social attributes.
What is even more concerning is that Epic announced that it will launch a cross-platform game library in the fall of 2026 to support simultaneous use on PC and mobile devices. Although details are still limited at present, this feature may mean that players can share game progress or authorizations between different devices in the future, similar to the concept of Xbox Play Anywhere, but this time across the two major platforms of PC and mobile phones. If true, this will greatly increase the stickiness of the Epic ecosystem and may also change players’ gaming habits on mobile platforms. Epic also plans to launch regional stores so that players in different markets can obtain more localized content and prices. This is an important step towards a mature platform for the globally expanding Epic Games Store.
In addition, Epic is preparing to introduce a cross-promotion system that will allow players to receive Fortnite-themed in-game cosmetics when purchasing the store game. This cross-game reward strategy is reminiscent of the cooperative promotion model between Steam and “Team Fortress 2”. It is an additional incentive for players and can also strengthen the influence of Epic’s own IP. The mobile game library management function is also under development. In the future, players will be able to more easily manage their Epic game collection on mobile devices. Epic concluded in the report: “Our goal is to create a fairer and more open market that benefits both players and developers. Moving into 2026, we will continue to empower developers and ensure that players can enjoy the best gaming experience no matter which platform they are on.”
In addition to looking ahead, Epic also released store data for 2025. Spending on third-party games reached US$400 million, a 57% increase from last year; total play hours of third-party games reached 2.78 billion hours, an increase of 4% year-on-year. Overall, PC gamers spent $1.16 billion on the Epic Games Store, up 6% from last year. It is worth noting that although the total play hours in the store dropped by 14% compared with last year, Epic pointed out that the play hours of third-party games have actually increased, showing that players’ behavior on the platform is gradually shifting from first-party content to a wider range of third-party works, which also echoes the “open market” strategy that Epic has always emphasized.
Taken together, the Epic Games Store is at a critical turning point. From performance optimization and community building to cross-platform game libraries and regional stores, Epic is trying to create a more complete and competitive game ecosystem. 2026 will be an important year for Epic to deepen its platform and expand its influence.
Source: KOCPC Chinese