Tag: epic games

The best Epic Games Store holiday sale deals you’ve got to check out

We’ve rounded up the best Epic Games Store holiday sale deals and discounts, including Spider-Man, Death Stranding, Dying Light 2, and more

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The 2023 Epic Games holiday sale is here, and there’s a lot of pretty sweet deals to go around on video games of all kinds. Remedy Games is offering discounts on all its hit games, including the recently-released Alan Wake 2. NIS America dropped the price of several games, including the hit Trails RPG series, Square Enix’s underrated gem of a sequel to The World Ends With You, Death Stranding, and a whole lot more. 

The Epic Games holiday sale lasts until Jan. 10, 2024, so you’ve got a bit of time to plan what you’d like to get, and Epic is running its usual coupon deal as well, where you can get 33 percent off most games over $15.

Court sides with Epic Games in Google Play monopoly case

The long court battle between Epic Games and Google Play is finally over, and Google came out worse for wear

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The long court battle between Epic Games and Google Play is finally over, and Google came out worse for wear. The jury verdict comes three years after Epic filed a suit accusing Google of operating an illegal monopoly with the Google Play store on mobile devices and, specifically, Google Play Billing (thanks, The Verge).

The jury answered yes to each allegation, stating Google has monopoly power in Android app distribution and in-app billing and that its position and anticompetitive actions harmed Epic Games. Epic wasn’t the only one harmed either. During the trial, evidence emerged of secret revenue sharing deals between Google and large corporations such as Netflix and Spotify, where Google didn’t impose Play Billing terms on certain entities – the same terms every other publisher had to abide by. 

“We plan to challenge the verdict,” Google VP of government affairs and public policy said in a statement. “Android and Google Play provide more choice and openness than any other major mobile platform. The trial made clear that we compete fiercely with Apple and its App Store, as well as app stores on Android devices and gaming consoles. We will continue to defend the Android business model and remain deeply committed to our users, partners, and the broader Android ecosystem.”

The judge hearing Epic v. Google hasn’t ordered any remediation from Google yet, and it’s unclear what actions they might require Google to take. Epic is aiming for freedom for developers and publishers to implement their own in-app stores on Android devices, though remediation discussions won’t begin until January 2024. While Epic and CEO Tim Sweeney will not seek payment for damages, Sweeny did say during the hearing that Epic stands to make “billions” of dollars by not having to pay Google for Play Billing.

Sweeney also laid off nearly 1,000 Epic employees just weeks before, citing difficult economic headwinds and company mismanagement as the cause.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

Epic announces nearly 1,000 layoffs, raises Fortnite V-bucks prices

Fortnite maker Epic Games announced layoffs affecting nearly 1,000 people and will raise V-bucks prices in the multiplayer game

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Fortnite maker Epic Games announced layoffs affecting nearly 1,000 people, just a day after also announcing a V-bucks price increase in the multiplayer game. The layoffs affected 870 employees across Epic’s studios, including Psyonix and Fall Guys-maker Mediatonic, and additional employees at Bandcamp and SuperAwesome, two companies Epic purchased in 2022 and 2020, respectively.

“For a while now, we’ve been spending way more money than we earn, investing in the next evolution of Epic and growing Fortnite as a metaverse-inspired ecosystem for creators,” Sweeney said in a statement. “I had long been optimistic that we could power through this transition without layoffs, but in retrospect I see that this was unrealistic.”

Epic is also selling off music platform Bandcamp and will turn SuperAwesome into an independent company. Sweeney pointed to Epic’s recent revenue sharing plan with content creators as a factor in Fortnite’s supposed decline.

“While Fortnite is starting to grow again, the growth is driven primarily by creator content with significant revenue sharing, and this is a lower margin business than we had when Fortnite Battle Royale took off and began funding our expansion. Success with the creator ecosystem is a great achievement, but it means a major structural change to our economics.”

The news came less than a day after Epic quietly announced it would raise Fortnite V-bucks prices in the U.S. and other countries beginning Oct. 27, 2023.

  • 1,000 V-Bucks – $7.99 to $8.99
  • 2,800 V-Bucks – $19.99 to $22.99
  • 5,000 V-Bucks – $31.99 to $36.99
  • 13,5000 V-Bucks – $79.99 to $89.99

Sweeney didn’t say whether Epic would reverse or change its revenue sharing program, which offers payouts to influential creators who build Fortnite islands and attract more players to the game.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

Epic Games releases Unreal Engine 5 alongside some gorgeous tech demos

The new-generation graphics technology is quite impressive.

The full version of Unreal Engine 5 is out now. Several staggeringly beautiful titles like Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, the next Witcher RPG, and many more will utilize Epic’s new technology.

On Monday, during the State of Unreal 2022 broadcast, Epic announced that Unreal Engine 5 is publicly available for download here. Game developers worldwide can now produce more Matrix Awakens-like technical spectacles, which is no doubt what Crystal Dynamics will do with the next Tomb Raider.

Other studios already using Unreal Engine 5 for games include Remedy, Supermassive, Ninja Theory, PlayStation, and tons more. Take a look at the screenshot below to see what studios will use Unreal Engine 5. Chances are that several of your favorite games use Unreal Engine already, mind you.

Alongside Unreal Engine 5, Epic released the third-person shooter Lyria. It’s not so much a full-on game as it is a customizable tool that allows aspiring developers to test and tweak technical options within Unreal Engine 5. A toybox of sorts, only for adults with computer science degrees! 

Watch a jaw-dropping Unreal Engine 5 demo from Gears of War studio The Coalition for yourself below.

A preview build for Unreal Engine 5 was available since last May, though the full version offers a far more robust feature set. 

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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Epic Games and Xbox raise $36 million for Ukraine humanitarian relief

Fortnite proceeds are helping the country in a big way.

Epic Games and Microsoft are donating all Fortnite proceeds towards humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine for the next two weeks, and the initiative is already doing incredible numbers.

On Monday, Epic announced it had already raised $36 million in funds for the Ukrainian people. Keep in mind that Epic is collecting donations from March 20 through April 3, 2022, so yes — the company raised that much in only 24 hours.

All funds will be sent to Direct Relief, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), and the UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency. In a FAQ section regarding the charity drive, Epic insists its sending funds as quickly as possible.

“We’re not waiting for the actual funds to come in from our platform and payment partners, which can take a while depending on how the transaction was processed,” Epic explains.” As transactions are reported, we’ll log them and send the funds to the humanitarian relief organizations within days.”

Epic joins the growing chorus of companies within the games industry aiding Ukraine in light of Russia’s invasion. Square Enix, PlayStation, and The Pokémon Company has already made charitable donations, while Xbox, CD Project Red, Electronic Arts, and GSC Game World are not selling hardware or software in Russia during the conflict.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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Fortnite developer Epic Games acquires online music company Bandcamp

CEO Ethan Diamond maintains that Bandcamp will maintain some degree of autonomy.

Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, is acquiring Bandcamp.

On Wednesday, Bandcamp CEO Ethan Diamond made a blog post on the company’s website detailing what Epic’s purchase means for its team and community.

“Bandcamp will keep operating as a standalone marketplace and music community, and I will continue to lead our team,” Diamond said. “The products and services you depend on aren’t going anywhere, we’ll continue to build Bandcamp around our artists-first revenue model, you’ll still have the same control over how you offer your music, Bandcamp Fridays will continue as planned, and the Daily will keep highlighting the diverse, amazing music on the site.”

“However, behind the scenes, we’re working with Epic to expand internationally and push development forward across Bandcamp, from basics like our album pages, mobile apps, merch tools, payment system, and search and discovery features, to newer initiatives like our vinyl pressing and live streaming services,” Diamond continues.

The complete statement from Diamond is available below.

Epic Games Store vice president and general manager Steve Allison spoke on the Bandcamp purchase as well. 

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Bandcamp team to Epic Games,” Allison said via Epic’s website. “Bandcamp has built an incredible community and business where up and coming artists can succeed thanks to the direct support of their fans, with one of the best revenue models and terms in music. This aligns closely with Epic’s approach to supporting creators across all media and enabling them to connect directly with their fans.” 

Back in November, Epic also bought Rock Band studio Harmonix.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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Fortnite isn’t coming to the Steam Deck, according to Epic Games CEO

Not at launch, for sure.

The Steam Deck will  release pretty soon, but it’s probably not getting Fortnite. Not in the way of official support, that is. 

Fortnite  might not be  available on Steam, but since the Steam Deck is an open platform, developers are free to support it however they wish. On Sunday, one Fortnite  fan asked  Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney if the battle royale phenomenon would come to Valve’s device. In short: it’s not looking good.

“Fortnite no, but there’s a big effort underway to maximize Easy Anti-Cheat compatibility with Steam Deck,” Sweeny said  on Twitter. He goes on to state that the open nature of the Steam Deck would make combating cheating in Fortnite  very difficult due to its popularity.

Sweeny’s comments aren’t all that surprising, considering  The Epic Games Store  and Steam are rival platforms. However, he explains that the Steam Deck using Linux is the primary issue. Since the open-source nature of that operating system makes it a hacker’s paradise. The last thing Epic probably wants Fortnite garnering cheaters on Call of Duty: Warzone’s  scale. 

So yeah, there’ll probably be no official Fortnite port on the Steam Deck anytime soon. It’s a shame because who wouldn’t want to floss while holding that big handheld. At least you can  play Half-Life 2  on it.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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Rumbleverse is ‘brawler royale’ where you suplex opponents off of skyscrapers

Free to play piledrivers.

Rumbleverse, a free-to-play ‘brawler’ royale by Iron Galaxy Studios, was announced at The Game Awards.

If you’ve ever wondered what a battle royale would be like if Vince McMahon called the shots, Rumbleverse  is as close as we’ll ever get to that frightening fantasy. The premise is simple: 40 players get shot out of a cannon into Grapital City, where they’ll layeth the smacketh down on any candy arse bold enough to stand in their way.

As per battle royale tradition, there are loads of weapons and items to find throughout the map, along with new moves. Have to say, the idea of looting a hurricanrana sounds absolutely mint. If hurricanranas are in the game, that is (they should be).

Check out the Rumbleverse  announcement trailer for yourself below. The Fortnite  influence is strong here, which makes sense considering  Epic Games  is publishing it. 

Iron Galaxy Studios Co-CEO Adam Boyes claims Rumbleverse  is something they’ve wanted to make for a long time.

“This journey began for us with an idea to create an experience that was social, competitive, and chaotic,” Boyes said in a press release. “We wanted to build a big, hilarious playground where spectacular things are always happening. Rumbleverse  combines our love for melee combat with the teamwork and player expression that have made games such a crucial source of human interaction.”

Early Access for Rumbleverse  begins Feb. 8, 2022 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC via the Epic Games Store.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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The Rock might be coming to Fortnite

The people’s champ is going to start a build war.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may have teased some involvement with Fortnite.

On Thursday, Johnson shared a relatively innocuous video on his social media pages. At first glance, it’s just a shout-out for his energy drink ZOA. However, a rather interesting inclusion in Johnson’s refrigerator was The Foundation’s mask — one of Fortnite’s  central characters. As reported by  Gamespot  earlier this year, The Foundation’s voice actor has been a mystery for quite some time. Though everyone has speculated it’s been Johnson all along.

Naturally, Fortnite  fans spotted the mask pretty quickly, especially since the hint was about as subtle as a brick flying through a window. Check out the full video for yourself below.

Kind of a suspicious aura to the post, eh? There’s a good reason for that. Take a look at the blow screencaps to see The Foundation’s mask right out there in the open.

Obviously, it’s not confirmed, yet it’s hard to deny that the fan speculation is likely correct. Johnson is far from the first celebrity to  crossover into Epic’s battle royale phenomenon. At this rate, everything in the known universe will be in Fortnite. It’s already got  League of Legends  and  Naruto, so the people’s champion might as well be on the list too.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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Chapter 2 of Fortnite comes to an end on December 4

The end is near.

The end is near in Fortnite, as chapter 2 is about to conclude.

Appropriately titled “The End,” Fortnite’s  second chapter is about to reach its finale. Epic Games is promising that this event is a can’t-miss, too — quite literally, as this is a one-time event. So anyone eager to see it should queue into  Fortnite  well ahead of time. It’s all going down Dec. 4 at 4 P.M. EDT / 1 P.M. PDT on all platforms. 

As with past story events in Fortnite, nobody knows what’s about to go down. However, Epic Games did provide a smidge of insight on what to expect.

“With The Convergence complete, The Cube Queen prepares her endgame for the Island and nothing will ever be the same,” Epic Games said  on its website. “Grab your weapons and fight the ultimate destroyer of all reality. Join ‘The End,’ a one-time-only, in-game event and battle for your legacy.”

Take a look at a teaser trailer for The End below.

Epic Games are also stressing that everyone should finish any seasonal quests as they’re about to disappear. Some examples are the Cube Queen’s Page 1 & 2 quests, collecting color bottles and rainbow ink to unlock Toona Fish styles and trading any leftover battle stars. The  metaverse better not have any of this. 

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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