Steam vs Epic Games: Comparing The Two Most Popular Digital Gaming Platforms

In today's digital era, Steam and Epic Games Store stand as the two largest digital game distribution platforms competing for market dominance. Each offers unique experiences and advantages. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you determine which platform might better suit your needs.

GAME INDUSTRY

Anwar

5/8/20243 min read

Brief History

Launched by Valve Corporation in 2003, Steam initially served as a platform for distributing updates and patches for Valve games like Counter-Strike. Over time, it evolved into the world's largest digital game distribution platform, hosting over 50,000 games in its catalog.

Epic Games Store emerged in December 2018, making an immediate impact by offering more favorable revenue sharing for developers (88/12 compared to Steam's 70/30) and implementing an aggressive strategy to secure exclusive games.

Interface and Features Comparison

User Interface

Steam:

Mature and tested interface
Extensive customization options
Complex but comprehensive menus
Powerful library management tools

Epic Games:

Minimalist and modern interface
Simpler navigation
Limited customization options
Basic library management

Social Features

Steam:

Comprehensive friendship system
Real-time chat with voice capabilities
Groups and communities
Integrated game invite system

Epic Games:

Basic social features
Simple chat system
Limited community features
Multiplayer party system

Download and Update Systems

Steam:

Powerful download manager
Download scheduling and throttling
Customizable auto-updates
Built-in backup system

Epic Games:

Basic download manager
Simple auto-update system
No game backup feature
Consistent download speeds

Cloud Gaming

Steam:

Remote Play Together
Steam Link
Cloud saves for most games
Steam Input for controller support

Epic Games:

Cloud saves for selected games
No built-in streaming features
Basic controller support

Game Catalog and Exclusivity

Available Games

Steam leads significantly with over 50,000 games in its catalog, while Epic Games Store has approximately 1000+ games. However, Epic focuses on quality and stricter curation.

Exclusive Games

Steam:

Valve games (Half-Life, Portal, DOTA 2)
Numerous third-party exclusives
Exclusive indie titles

Epic Games:

Fortnite
Many temporal AAA exclusives
Several high-quality indie exclusives

Indie Games Support

Steam:

Steam Direct system
Workshop support
More visibility tools
Larger marketplace

Epic Games:

Stricter curation
Greater financial support
Better revenue share
Developer support programs

Prices and Discounts

Steam:

Regular sales (Summer, Winter, etc.)
Bundle deals
Trading cards and market
Frequent weekend deals

Epic Games:

Weekly free games
Mega sales events
Discount coupons
No market system

Payment Systems and Regional Pricing

Payment Methods

Steam offers more payment options including:

Credit/debit cards
PayPal
Steam Wallet
Local bank transfers
Various regional methods

Epic Games provides:

Credit/debit cards
PayPal
Selected local methods

Regional Pricing

Both platforms implement regional pricing, but Steam offers more flexible pricing that better reflects local economic conditions. Epic Games also has regional pricing but with more limited variations.

Additional Platform Features

Workshop and Mod Support

Steam:

Integrated Steam Workshop
Easy mod management
Large modding community
Automatic mod updates

Epic Games:

No official mod system
Manual modding
Limited mod support

Streaming and Broadcasting

Steam:

Steam Broadcasting
Remote Play Together
TV/mobile streaming
Screenshot and video sharing

Epic Games:

Basic streaming features
No broadcasting
Basic screenshot functionality

Performance and Security

Resource Usage

Steam tends to use more resources due to its complex feature set, while Epic Games remains lighter and more minimalist.

Anti-Cheat Systems

Steam:

VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat)
Third-party anti-cheat support
Comprehensive reporting system

Epic Games:

Easy Anti-Cheat
Third-party anti-cheat support
Basic reporting system

Conclusion

Both Steam and Epic Games have their strengths and weaknesses. Steam excels in features, community, and catalog size, while Epic Games offers better deals for developers, weekly free games, and a simpler approach.

The best choice depends on individual preferences:
If you want a feature-rich platform with a large community, Steam is the right choice.
If you prefer a minimalist platform with regular free games and AAA exclusives, Epic Games might be better suited.

FAQ

Q: Can I use both platforms simultaneously? A: Yes, you can install and use both platforms without any issues.
Q: Which platform is lighter on computer resources? A: Epic Games Store is generally lighter due to its minimalist features.
Q: Can games purchased on one platform be played on the other? A: No, games purchased on one platform can only be played through that platform.
Q: Which has a better refund system? A: Both have similar refund policies (2 hours gameplay/14 days), but Steam has a more streamlined process.
Q: Which platform offers more frequent discounts? A: Steam has more regular sales, but Epic Games offers weekly free games and occasional additional discount coupons.