Epic Games Throws Down the Gauntlet to the Publishing Industry
Epic is making a statement by securing reputable developers, but also with the intricacies of how it will approach the relationship with those developers. | Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP
- Epic Games has announced its own publishing branch.
- The company has struck deals with developers Remedy Entertainment, genDesign, and Playdead.
- EGP aims to offer the most developer-friendly terms in the industry.
Not content with limiting its operations to developing games and running a digital storefront, Epic Games announced today that it is taking the first steps into the world of video game publishing .
Epic Games Publishing Means Business
Epic Games Publishing is a “new multi-platform publishing effort” that aims to rejig the relationship with game makers with the “most developer-friendly terms in the industry.”
The label’s roster is already looking stacked with deals to publish upcoming games from Remedy Entertainment, genDesign, and Playdead.
These developers are responsible for acclaimed releases like Control, May Payne, Limbo, Inside, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian. That’s a stable any budding publisher – or even an existing one – would be justifiably proud to have.
Epic is making a statement by securing reputable developers, but also with the intricacies of how it will approach the relationship with those developers.
Unusually Developer-Friendly Terms
Epic Games has taken the unorthodox decision to share details of its publishing terms. Much like the Games Store, the company is opting to embark down a different path to industry standards.
CEO Tim Sweeney says:
We’re building the publishing model we always wanted for ourselves when we worked with publishers.
In a statement sharing the news, Epic Games explains it will guarantee:
– Full creative freedom and ownership. Developers retain 100% of all intellectual property and full creative control of their work.
– Fully-funded projects. Epic Games Publishing will cover up to 100% of development costs, from developer salaries to go-to-market expenses such as QA, localization, marketing, and all publishing costs.
– 50/50 profit sharing. Developers earn a fair share for their work — once costs are recouped, developers earn at least 50% of all profits.
As for what games we can expect to see from EGP, Remedy Entertainment says it has two unannounced games in the pipeline . The first is a AAA multi-platform title already in pre-production. The other is a new smaller project in the same franchise.
We’ll be hearing more from Epic about upcoming games and other developers joining the roster in the months ahead.
