In a landscape where platform and store exclusives are increasingly becoming a rarity, the gaming industry is witnessing a shift driven by rising costs and the necessity for studios to maximize their sales potential. The upcoming title, Lords of the Fallen 2, is poised to challenge this trend by launching exclusively on the Epic Games Store for PC. Marek Tyminski, the founder and CEO of CI Games, has shared insights into this strategic decision, asserting that it will have minimal impact on the game’s audience.
Insights from CI Games
Tyminski took to Twitter to clarify the rationale behind the exclusive partnership with Epic. He emphasized that the majority of PC gamers who are eager to play a particular title are likely to purchase it from Epic if that is the only available option. He backed this assertion with sales data from key markets, including North America and Europe, while noting that Asia’s figures were excluded for the first year post-launch.
The gaming community has seen several titles tied to the Epic Games Store, with Remedy’s Alan Wake 2 in 2023 being one of the few comparable releases. Although specific sales figures for PC have not been disclosed, it took Alan Wake 2 until the end of 2024 to achieve profitability across all platforms. This raises questions about whether the exclusivity on Epic hindered sales potential, especially considering Steam’s broader reach.
While anecdotal evidence suggests some gamers may be reluctant to use Epic, the true impact of this exclusivity will only become clear as Lords of the Fallen 2 approaches its release. Tyminski has previously mentioned that Epic made a “significant investment” in the project, which likely alleviated some financial pressures on the development team. Scheduled for release in 2026, just three years after its predecessor, details about the game remain sparse.
In a recent statement, the game’s director hinted at exciting developments in level design, suggesting that the sequel will feature captivating characters as part of its evolution. However, fans are primarily focused on gameplay enhancements, eager to see how the sequel will build upon the foundations laid by the original.
