One of the most highly-anticipated games of 2023, Alan Wake II, is set to launch on October 27, simultaneously on consoles and PC. However, PC gamers looking forward to this sequel will notice a significant absence from the familiar confines of Steam. Instead, Alan Wake II will be exclusively available on the Epic Games Store, at least initially. So, what's the reason behind this platform choice? It all comes down to a substantial investment by Epic Games.
Epic's Funding and Publishing Deal
Epic Games played a pivotal role in bringing Alan Wake II to life by funding its development. As part of this partnership between Epic and Remedy, an exclusivity agreement was established. Epic also covered the development costs of the 2021 Alan Wake remaster. Moreover, Epic assumes the role of publisher for Alan Wake II, which further cements its control over where the game is distributed.
Epic Games has adopted a strategy to promote its relatively new platform, the Epic Games Store, and attract gamers away from its competitors like Steam. To achieve this, they offer financial incentives to developers and publishers, effectively persuading them to choose the Epic Games Store over other platforms.
Epic Games' founder and CEO, Tim Sweeney, acknowledged the impact of this strategy, noting that "a handful of major exclusives really moved the needle." In essence, by securing exclusive titles, Epic aims to lure players from platforms like Steam to the Epic Games Store.
Exclusivity Agreements and Steam
The exclusive nature of games like Alan Wake II isn't a new tactic for Epic. In 2019, Remedy's Control launched exclusively on the Epic Games Store before becoming available on Steam exactly one year later. However, there's a key difference – Control was published by 505 Games, not Epic. This implies that Alan Wake II's exclusivity might not have a predefined timeline, given that Epic is the publisher.
Alan Wake Remastered, another game published by Epic, landed on the Epic Games Store in October 2021 and remains absent from Steam. As the publisher of Alan Wake II, it is likely that Epic will have the final say on the game's distribution, making it uncertain whether the game will eventually make its way to Steam.
Steve Allison, General Manager of the Epic Games Store, confirmed that Alan Wake II would be exclusive to the platform for "a long time," but he refrained from specifying the exact duration of this exclusivity. The absence of the word "forever" leaves room for the possibility that Alan Wake II could eventually find its way to Steam, albeit without a concrete timeline.
As of now, the only option for PC gamers to experience Alan Wake II at launch is through the Epic Games Store. The game is scheduled to release on October 27, with great anticipation among players and promising early reviews.
While the exclusivity debate continues, it's clear that Epic Games' strategy for acquiring exclusive titles is making waves in the gaming industry. Alan Wake II's temporary exclusivity on the Epic Games Store is a testament to the power of investment in securing highly-anticipated games for their platform. Whether Steam loyalists will eventually get the opportunity to dive into this eagerly awaited sequel remains to be seen.
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