Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has expressed openness to bringing Fortnite to Steam or any other significant digital storefront, provided they eliminate the current 30% revenue cut. Sweeney outlined these conditions in response to a tweet, stating, “We’ll compete, and we’ll also put Fortnite on any serious store that gives all developers an awesome deal…the end of these ridiculous 30% fees is near.” This stance takes a direct aim at Steam, which currently imposes a 30% cut on developers.
While the statement may seem to suggest that Steam is not considered a “serious store,” it underscores the industry sentiment that a 30% cut is high. In a 2021 survey at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), only 7% of respondents believed a 30% cut was justified.
In terms of revenue sharing, if Fortnite were to join Steam, it would likely negotiate a lower percentage, as Valve offers reduced rates for high-earning games. Valve’s policy includes a 25% cut past the $10 million mark and a 20% cut past the $50 million mark.
Epic Games has positioned itself favorably in this debate by offering a baseline revenue cut of 12% and implementing programs that grant developers six months of 100% profit in exchange for Epic Games Store exclusivity. While some may attribute this generosity to Epic Games’ need to attract developers due to its lower popularity compared to Steam, the numbers speak for themselves.
This isn’t the first time Sweeney has criticized Valve. In March, he pointed out issues with Steam’s multiplayer game setup, accusing them of employing a lock-in strategy to promote their store. Despite such criticisms, Valve’s market dominance and unique promotional methods, such as avoiding ad space sales and utilizing algorithmic or hand-curated promotions, continue to shape the gaming landscape. Steam’s impact on both indie and veteran developers remains a subject of ongoing industry discussion.
