Steve Allison has embarked on a new chapter in his career, stepping away from his role as vice president and general manager of the Epic Games Store after an impactful eight-year tenure. He has now taken on the position of chief business officer at Saber Interactive, a move that has generated considerable excitement within the gaming community.
Allison’s Vision for Saber Interactive
In a statement shared with Games Industry, Allison expressed his admiration for the foundation laid by Saber Interactive’s founders. He highlighted the studio’s unique ability to produce high-quality games at a fraction of the industry cost, noting that their upcoming lineup is nothing short of exceptional. Titles such as Space Marine 3, Jurassic Park, Turok, Hellraiser, and a new John Wick game are on the horizon, alongside several unannounced projects that he hinted would be revealed soon.
Allison’s legacy at Epic Games is noteworthy, particularly for his role in launching the Epic Games Store in 2018. Under his leadership, the platform has seen remarkable growth, boasting 78 million monthly active users today. This achievement is largely attributed to Epic’s strategy of offering hundreds of millions of free games, a tactic that has undoubtedly attracted a substantial user base.
While the Epic Games Store has made significant strides, it still faces fierce competition from Steam, which continues to dominate the PC gaming market. Although Valve does not disclose its monthly user statistics, estimates suggest that Steam may have around 200 million monthly active users, underscoring the challenges that lie ahead for Allison and his new team at Saber.
Saber Interactive, founded in 2001, has a rich history in game development. The studio made its debut with Will Rock in 2003, a title that, while not critically acclaimed, marked the beginning of its journey. Following the release of TimeShift in 2007, Saber gained recognition for its collaboration with 343 Industries on Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. The studio was acquired by Embracer in 2020, becoming a key subsidiary. However, after Embracer faced significant challenges, Saber was sold to a company owned by Karch for 7 million, effectively transforming into a mini-Embracer with its own collection of studios.
