Epic Games Store had millions of new users. Revenue growth, not much.

An increase in users didn't translate to an increase in sales for Epic Games Store, based on their year-in-review report for 2020.

Epic Games Store (EGS) gained over 52 million new users throughout 2020, the company reports. However, the growth in userbase didn't translate to significant growth in revenue.

EPIC GAMES STORE MAY HAVE A FREELOADER PROBLEM

The Epic Games Store year-in-review report for 2020 shows that there are now over 160 million registered users for the platform. From these 160 million users, EGS reported over $965 million in revenue, $700 million of which are spent directly on the storefront. Gamers spent the remaining $265 million in-game.

If we compare 2020's statistics to 2019's, Epic Games Store registered over 52 million new users. However, this didn't translate to any significant change in their revenue. Between 2020 and 2019, EGS only grew its revenue by a measly $34 million. This pales in comparison to its 52 million new users.

These statistics show that Epic Games Store's free game marketing strategy works in generating new users. However, the new users don't necessarily buy games on the platform. They're merely there to pick up the free games. Many players flock to EGS for this since they also give away popular games. These include the likes of Civilization VI, Grand Theft Auto V, and more recently, Star Wars: Battlefront II. Over 19 million people signed in on the Epic Games Store to get Star Wars: Battlefront II alone.

Epic pairs their free game marketing strategy with an aggressive timed exclusive strategy. This strategy forces hardcore fans of long-running series to buy new games like Borderlands 3 on EGS to play it on launch day. However, this strategy is clearly not enough to convince most of their userbase to buy all their games on the EGS. As of December 2020, only 56 million users, or roughly a third of the total, remain active users on the platform.

With that being said, Epic Games Store still has a lot of catching up to do with their biggest rival, Steam.

GET DANDARA: TRIALS OF FEAR EDITION FOR FREE

Speaking of free game marketing strategy, EPS is offering Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition this week. Dandara is a Metroidvania action platformer game by developer Long Hat House. Players take control of Dandara. She wakes up in a bizarre universe full of mystical creatures and boundless exploration. It's up to the player to reshape the universe to their liking in this wonderful world.

You can grab Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition until February 4, 2021.