Epic Games Store vs Steam Market Share Statistics (2025)
By Alex╺
- PS4
- PS5
- XBox One
- Series X
- PC
The PC gaming industry continues to evolve rapidly, with digital distribution platforms competing fiercely for market dominance. Steam, operated by Valve Corporation, maintains its position as the leading platform, while Epic Games Store has emerged as a significant challenger through aggressive pricing strategies and exclusive content offerings. This comprehensive analysis examines the current market dynamics, user engagement metrics, and revenue performance of these competing platforms in 2025.
Steam Market Dominance in 2025
Market Share
Steam continues to command approximately 75% of the digital PC games market, demonstrating its sustained dominance in the gaming industry despite increased competition.
Concurrent Users
In early 2025, Steam achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 40.27 million concurrent users for the first time, showcasing unprecedented engagement levels.
Monthly Active Users
The platform maintains a robust user base of 132 million monthly active users, reflecting consistent engagement across its global audience.
Annual Revenue
Steam generated a record-breaking $10.8 billion in revenue during 2024, representing a 24.14% increase from the previous year’s $8.7 billion.
Steam vs Epic Games Store Market Share Comparison
Epic Games Store Growth and Performance in 2024
The Epic Games Store has demonstrated remarkable growth in user acquisition while facing challenges in third-party revenue generation. The platform’s strategy of offering free games and securing exclusive titles has attracted a substantial user base, though monetization remains primarily driven by Epic’s first-party titles like Fortnite and Rocket League.
PC User Base
Epic Games Store reached 295 million PC users by the end of 2024, representing significant growth in platform adoption across global markets.
Monthly Active Users
The platform maintains 67 million monthly active users, with a 6% year-over-year growth rate demonstrating sustained engagement.
Daily Active Users
Average daily active users reached 31.5 million, with peak daily usage hitting 37.2 million users during high-traffic periods.
Total Spending
Platform spending totaled $1.09 billion in 2024, marking a 15% increase from the previous year despite challenges in third-party sales.
Epic Games Store Revenue Breakdown 2024
Revenue Share Models and Developer Economics
The revenue sharing model represents one of the most significant differentiators between Steam and Epic Games Store. Epic’s more developer-friendly approach has attracted numerous publishers, particularly smaller studios seeking to maximize their revenue potential. The PC gaming market size statistics indicate that revenue share models significantly impact developer decision-making processes.
| Platform | Standard Revenue Cut | Special Conditions | Developer Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | 30% | Reduced to 25% after $10M revenue, 20% after $50M | Extensive platform features, large user base |
| Epic Games Store | 12% | 0% for first $1M starting June 2025, waived for Unreal Engine titles | Better revenue share, exclusivity deals |
Third-Party Revenue Analysis and Market Performance
The disparity in third-party revenue between Steam and Epic Games Store highlights the competitive challenges faced by newer platforms. Steam’s estimated annual third-party revenue of approximately $8-10 billion contrasts sharply with Epic’s $255 million, demonstrating the significant gap in market penetration and developer adoption.
Third-Party Revenue Comparison (2024)
This revenue gap reflects several factors including Steam’s longer market presence, established developer relationships, and comprehensive platform features. However, Epic’s focus on gaming content creator earnings and community building suggests alternative strategies for platform growth.
Free Games Strategy and User Acquisition
Epic Games Store’s free games program has become a cornerstone of its user acquisition strategy. In 2024, the platform distributed 89 free PC games worth approximately $2,229 per user, with 595 million total claims recorded across the user base. This aggressive approach to user acquisition demonstrates Epic’s commitment to challenging Steam’s market dominance through value-driven offerings.
Free Games Offered
89 titles distributed in 2024, maintaining Epic’s weekly free game commitment across diverse genres and quality tiers.
Total Value
$2,229 worth of games per user based on US market pricing, representing substantial value proposition for platform users.
Claims Volume
595 million game claims recorded, indicating high user engagement with the free games program.
Average Rating
76% average Metacritic rating across free games, demonstrating commitment to quality offerings rather than just quantity.
Cross-Platform Gaming and Market Expansion
The evolution of cross-platform gaming has significantly impacted digital distribution strategies. Epic’s integration with various platforms and its focus on cross-platform gaming adoption rates positions it strategically for future market expansion. Meanwhile, Steam’s continued investment in hardware innovations like the Steam Deck demonstrates alternative approaches to market growth.
Both platforms are adapting to the growing global esports revenue projections by supporting competitive gaming ecosystems. Steam’s extensive community features and Epic’s tournament infrastructure reflect different approaches to capturing the esports market segment.
Future Market Projections and Industry Trends
Industry analysts project continued growth in digital game distribution, with the market expected to reach $35.6 billion by 2032. Steam’s established position and Epic’s aggressive expansion suggest a competitive landscape that will likely benefit consumers through improved services and competitive pricing.
The influence of Twitch statistics on game discovery and platform selection continues to grow, while YouTube Gaming vs Twitch viewership statistics indicate the importance of streaming platform integration for digital distribution success.
Educational and Institutional Gaming Markets
The expansion into educational markets represents another growth opportunity for both platforms. College esports program growth statistics demonstrate the increasing importance of institutional gaming programs, which could drive platform adoption in educational settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Steam maintains approximately 75% of the digital PC gaming market share in 2025, though this represents a slight decline from previous years due to increased competition from Epic Games Store and other platforms.
Epic Games Store has reached 295 million PC users with 67 million monthly active users, while Steam maintains 132 million monthly active users. However, Steam’s users demonstrate higher engagement and spending patterns.
Steam takes a 30% revenue cut (with reductions for high-grossing titles), while Epic Games Store takes only 12%. Starting June 2025, Epic will waive all fees on the first $1 million in annual revenue per game, making it extremely developer-friendly for smaller studios.
Epic’s third-party revenue dropped 18% to $255 million in 2024, primarily due to increased competition, fewer major exclusive releases, and user preference for Epic’s first-party titles like Fortnite and Rocket League which dominate platform spending.
Epic’s free games program has been highly effective for user acquisition, with 595 million game claims in 2024. The program offered $2,229 worth of games per user, significantly boosting platform registration and engagement metrics.
The choice depends on developer priorities. Epic offers better revenue sharing and exclusivity deals, making it attractive for smaller studios. Steam provides a larger established user base, comprehensive platform features, and higher revenue potential despite higher fees.
Citations
1. TechPowerUp (2025). Steam Breaks its Own Record: 40 Million Concurrent Users Online
2. VentureBeat (2025). Epic Games Store hits nearly 300 million PC users in 2024
4. Credence Research (2025). Digital Game Distribution Platform Market Size, Share and Forecast 2032
5. Game Developer (2025). Epic Games Store reached 295 million PC players in 2024
