Epic: no porn or crappy games on our store, exclusivity deals will eventually stop

[midian182]

A hot potato: While there might be a huge number of games on Steam, it’s fair to say that some are, for want of a better word, crap. The store has also faced controversy for allowing virtually anything onto the platform. In what appears to be a dig at Valve, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said crappy games and porn are some of the things you won’t find on the Epic Games Store.

Speaking to PC Gamer, Sweeney said his store has “a quality standard that doesn’t accept crappy games.” He explained that Epic would apply these standards "similar to what a movie theater might apply as to what movies they show."

Sweeney added that while it would take on mature games such as GTA V, “Epic's not going to distribute porn games or bloatware or asset flips, or any sort of thing that's meant to shock players.”

In June last year, Valve said it would allow virtually anything on Steam, and that it would only remove games deemed illegal or outright trolling. This policy came under the spotlight recently when a store page for a sexual-assault game called Rape Day was discovered, which, following a barrage of criticism, was removed by Valve because of its “unknown costs and risks.”

Sweeney still isn’t certain how the store will filter out these type of games. “I think we'll be aware of the quality of what's submitted prior to making a decision to list it in the store—somehow," he said. "Humans can make those judgment calls, and they'll be pretty reasonable."

In other news, Epic Games Store head Steve Allison during a GDC 2019 Q&A said that the controversial exclusivity deals the company keeps securing won’t continue indefinitely.

Metro Exodus, The Division 2, and Phoenix Point, have all skipped Steam in favor of Epic, mostly because it pays developers 88 percent of game sales revenue—an improvement over Steam, whose cut starts at 30 percent. Upcoming title The Outer Worlds is also set to be an Epic Games Store (and Microsoft Store) exclusive.

But Allison said: "I don't think we plan to [negotiate exclusives] forever. We'll probably do it for a while. It's just about pushing the business model, helping people thrive, but at some point hopefully people just come, or the industry moves down and matches us.”

With a lot of people angry about being forced to use the Epic Games Store, and the company having to defend itself against accusations of data mining, some gamers will likely welcome the end of exclusives.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/79316-epic-no-porn-or-crappy-games-our-store.html

 

[Uncle Al]

Sounds like the industry is still trying to find their footing .....

 

[Puiu]

Didn't they say that they'll do it on a smaller scale? Not that they'll stop doing exclusive deals altogether.

 

[kira setsu]

I'm not a fan of epic because of the way they pay for top shelf games but if they actually dont let garbage games on their launcher then I would give them an honest try down the road, it's quite annoying how steams front page is basically nonsense.

Also, how is it hard to filter those games? someone admits it, someones looks at it and goes "wow, this is garbage" then doesnt let it in, it's not that hard.

 

[Mister_K]

Tired of these EPIC articles floating about #KILLITWITHFIRE

 

[kevbev89]

I'm not a fan of epic because of the way they pay for top shelf games but if they actually dont let garbage games on their launcher then I would give them an honest try down the road, it's quite annoying how steams front page is basically nonsense.

Also, how is it hard to filter those games? someone admits it, someones looks at it and goes "wow, this is garbage" then doesnt let it in, it's not that hard.

Note: Not directing or trying to offend you. Just using this opportunity to talk crap about Epic.

Well I can think of a couple counter-arguments:

1) The garbage may be an up and coming indie developer that needs a platform to distribute their game. And who knows? Maybe that person might be the next gem.

2) Why can't you just filter the games in a search? I've been using steam for a looooooong time, and all I buy are AAA titles. I have had no issue with ignoring porn/indie/lower quality games.

I'm sure I can think of more, but I think you can gauge that I simply am not a fan of Epic. Tim Sweeney almost sounds like Elon Musk (during his worst moments) spewing out big promises, but failing to deliver.

 

[toooooot]

"No porn." Steam look, this is your chance to stop the decline!
What was that porn game recently blocked on steam?
If you cant have AAA projects
become the king of trash
and such!

 

[kira setsu]

I'm not a fan of epic because of the way they pay for top shelf games but if they actually dont let garbage games on their launcher then I would give them an honest try down the road, it's quite annoying how steams front page is basically nonsense.

Also, how is it hard to filter those games? someone admits it, someones looks at it and goes "wow, this is garbage" then doesnt let it in, it's not that hard.

Note: Not directing or trying to offend you. Just using this opportunity to talk crap about Epic.

Well I can think of a couple counter-arguments:

1) The garbage may be an up and coming indie developer that needs a platform to distribute their game. And who knows? Maybe that person might be the next gem.

2) Why can't you just filter the games in a search? I've been using steam for a looooooong time, and all I buy are AAA titles. I have had no issue with ignoring porn/indie/lower quality games.

I'm sure I can think of more, but I think you can gauge that I simply am not a fan of Epic. Tim Sweeney almost sounds like Elon Musk (during his worst moments) spewing out big promises, but failing to deliver.

no offense taken,

but in steams case its very obvious that unless its a known AAA title that can shine above all the dregs the rest just seems to be garbage, sure their may be a gem in it but how would I know when other than AAA the rest is poison.

I'll stick with steam because of its feature set but right now on terms of a "storefront" its lacking imo and they really need to make a gate so terrible asset flips and attn seekers dont bog down what might be decent games. gog, gmg, uplay, origin arent covered in cheap terrible titles and its time for steam to step up.

with how markets work some new storefront would pop up anyway that caters to those trash-that-might-be-treasure games, but right now if epic can make steam actually give a s**t then we'll have a win-win imo, because you shouldnt have to take an extra step to filter out stuff like porn and dirt quality games.

 

[Evernessince]

I'm not a fan of epic because of the way they pay for top shelf games but if they actually dont let garbage games on their launcher then I would give them an honest try down the road, it's quite annoying how steams front page is basically nonsense.

Also, how is it hard to filter those games? someone admits it, someones looks at it and goes "wow, this is garbage" then doesnt let it in, it's not that hard.

If you do a few discovery queues on steam and click on the "not interested" button on games you don't like, it will filter out games you don't like.

 

[PcePce]

I take very seriously the opinions of those for whom 'quality games' brings to mind AAA titles.

 

[m3tavision]

The problem with Sweeney's comments are.... that "His" games & "OUR" games.. are on different platforms. Doesn't matter if Valve has crappy games in it's PORTFOLIO... they are there, as a choice. And Gamers have their own portfolios and they are not going to budge. So working out a deal with Gabe is a good choice for your customers.

Or else.. Sell the game DIRECTLY to the customer. But, there is zero need for him to create yet not-another Game Store. (wtf?) And now Sweeney is only trying to justify his decision to open an Epic Store Paywall and fracturing the Gamers. Yadda.. yadda..

None of the games anyone is making, is making them for long-time gamer who want more than what is out there. Underselling their portfolios and talents. Same with Origin. Just another password we have to remember, and account that might get stolen...