The Epic Games Store launcher presents certain difficulties for users.
The Epic Games Store launcher presents certain difficulties for users.
Greetings everyone!
I want to begin by stating that I generally dislike Epic’s business methods and Tencent as well, and my primary interest is understanding the reality behind much of the misleading information.
I’m really pleased with how Borderlands 3 is developing, and I have companions who will soon be experiencing it. I’ve spent years playing numerous loot-based shooters, and previously avoided using the Epic Store due to my belief it was impossible to obtain games outside of their platform. However, I’ve discovered this isn't true. Despite my reservations about their practices, I simply don’t want to support them financially. If I can obtain the game from another source and bypass their launcher—or even link the executable through Steam—that would be perfectly acceptable to me.
Nonetheless, I’m worried about the persistent accusations of intrusive monitoring and unauthorized file access associated with Epic. I haven't kept up-to-date on the details, but I recognize there’s a significant amount of speculation, promotional hype, and unusual behavior surrounding it (I acknowledge that the major controversy was largely fabricated, but some of the issues were genuinely perplexing). I safeguard sensitive data on my computer and consider it reasonably secure, but if I install software with potential security vulnerabilities, that protection would be diminished.
Therefore, my question is this: Would simply installing the Epic installer pose a security risk? My approach is that Epic and Tencent would gain little from me purchasing through third parties and only utilizing their launcher for activation. I suspect that several individuals within this community possess a deeper understanding of these matters than I do, so I’m seeking input from those who have already investigated this thoroughly.
Please be respectful; some people can become overly emotional about this subject. Given the vast amount of misinformation, I’d appreciate insights from individuals who have invested the time to sift through the falsehoods. Thank you!
Based on my research, Epic Games appears to possess a significantly greater number of security vulnerabilities compared to Steam or other platform launchers. The recent concerns stemmed from the launcher accessing data from Steam, encoding it, and transmitting it to Epic’s servers. While the CEO initially asserted a solution was being implemented and that the practice shouldn't continue, I suspect this is simply a response to exposure. If it hadn’t been detected, the practice likely would have persisted. I believe Epic has historically engaged in data collection to analyze player preferences and strategically encourage users to utilize their launcher.
Furthermore, even when purchasing games independently of Epic, the platform still receives a 12% cut—a practice unlike Steam, which does not participate in key sales and thus receives no revenue from those transactions. Consequently, you are essentially subsidizing Epic unless you purchase games through console channels or wait for Steam to release the title, a process that may not materialize given Gearbox’s CEO's contentious attitude.
My reservation centers around Epic's methods. I no longer have much interest in the platform, as their most successful game is now dated. Fortnite’s success—as a free clone of PUBG—attracts many users, and it's possible that a substantial portion of their revenue comes from cosmetic purchases rather than full game acquisitions, especially among new players. However, beyond timed exclusivity deals, Epic also enforces revenue guarantees for developers and publishers, effectively diminishing consumer choice.
I anticipate that this will negatively impact Gearbox/2K. As a devoted fan of the Borderlands series, I won’t purchase games on Epic. Given the CEO's dismissive approach to fan concerns, I may even avoid buying Borderlands 3 altogether. I prefer to avoid supporting a leader who demonstrates such an abrasive and unyielding demeanor instead of prioritizing constructive dialogue.
Borderlands holds a special place among my preferred video game franchises, though I’m anticipating its availability on Steam.
It appears to be a rather unfavorable circumstance. I’ll likely investigate the 12% figure and determine if we can separate the Epic client entirely from additional functions beyond initiating a game. It’s frequently challenging when companions are insistent on proceeding without delay, though I concur that it would be preferable for them to postpone—despite my attempts to articulate my feelings, they seem enthusiastic about Borderlands if I am.
Good fortune with your investigation, but I haven’t discovered any evidence suggesting a method to bypass Epic's share of revenue when purchasing through alternative channels. Generally, if acquired on a gaming console or waited for availability on Steam, Epic will ultimately receive their portion. I’m uncertain about whether they presently extract data from platforms like Steam, as my knowledge is not current; however, the company’s practices give me serious reservations about their integrity.