revenue sharing Archives

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

Fans Unsure Whether Sony Will Block PS5 Games on Xbox’s Rumoured PC Hardware

Microsoft is reportedly considering a new Xbox model that may function more like a personal computer, allowing access to various digital storefronts such as Steam and the Epic Games Store. A leaked user interface from the Game Developers Conference supports this idea. If true, this could enable gamers to play Sony titles like God of War Ragnarok and The Last of Us 2 on an Xbox device. However, this model would challenge Microsoft's traditional console business strategy, as it could lead to revenue sharing with companies like Epic and Valve. Opinions in the gaming community are mixed regarding whether Sony would block its games from being played on this new Xbox platform.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Epic Games Store has more PC players than ever – 295 million, in fact

Epic Games Store attracted 295 million PC players over the past year, an increase of 25 million since 2023. The platform has 898 million Epic cross-platform accounts, up by 94 million, with a collective playtime of 2.68 billion hours. The game catalog expanded by 1,100 new titles, supported by Self-Publishing Tools allowing developers to retain 100 percent of their revenue. The Free Games Program has provided over ,000 worth of premium PC titles through 89 giveaways, continuing into 2025. Daily Active Users (DAU) peaked at 37.2 million, while Monthly Active Users (MAU) declined slightly from 75 million to 74 million. DAU increased by 6 percent to 31.5 million, and MAU grew by 6 percent to 67.2 million. Popular titles include Genshin Impact, Rocket League, Honkai Star Rail, GTA 5, and Fortnite. The Now on Epic program will extend until January 31, 2026, including mobile games. Third-party gametime rose from 2.41 billion hours in 2023 to 2.68 billion in 2024, an 11 percent year-over-year growth. The Walt Disney Company acquired a .5 billion stake in Epic Games, initiating a multi-year partnership for a games and entertainment universe linked to Fortnite.

BetaBeacon

December 12, 2024

Epic Games’ app store will be preinstalled on millions of Android phones

Epic Games has partnered with Telefónica to have its mobile storefront pre-installed on millions of compatible Android devices sold by Telefónica networks, offering popular games like Fortnite and Fall Guys.

BetaBeacon

December 12, 2024

Epic’s dream is starting to come true — its store will be preinstalled on ‘millions’ of Android phones

Telefónica has partnered with the Epic Games Store to preinstall it on all new compatible Android phones, including Samsung devices, in an effort to challenge Google's app store dominance.

AppWizard

October 18, 2024

Google granted request to pause ‘dangerous remedies’ to Play store in blow to Epic Games

A federal judge in California granted Google a temporary reprieve from a previous order requiring changes to its Android app store, Google Play, amid an antitrust lawsuit by Epic Games. The ruling, by US District Judge James Donato, allows Google to pause the implementation of the order, originally set to take effect by November 1, while the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals reviews Google's request for a further pause. Judge Donato's decision was influenced by Google's concerns about potential safety, security, and privacy risks to the Android ecosystem. The order reflects changes proposed by Epic Games, including allowing users to download competing app platforms, using alternative in-app payment methods, prohibiting financial incentives for preinstalling Google Play, and restricting revenue sharing with other app distributors. Google has filed an appeal against the jury's antitrust findings, arguing it is not a monopolist due to competition with Apple’s App Store.

AppWizard

October 8, 2024

US Judge Orders Google To Allow Android App Store Competition

A federal judge has ordered Google to implement significant changes to its Play app store following a legal challenge from Epic Games. Judge James Donato's ruling requires Google to allow rival app stores on its platform and to make its entire app catalogue accessible to competitors unless developers opt out. This decision follows a jury trial that found Google's Android app store and billing service to be an illegal monopoly and identified anticompetitive agreements with various companies. The judge emphasized the need to dismantle barriers in the app ecosystem and limited the duration of the changes to three years. The ruling will take effect on November 1, giving Google eight months to develop a strategy for compliance, overseen by a technical committee. Key measures include preventing Google Play’s billing system from being dominant and allowing developers to inform users about alternative payment methods. The ruling also imposes restrictions on Google's practices, such as banning revenue sharing with app distributors and prohibiting incentives for exclusive launches on the Play Store. Google has expressed concerns about potential negative consequences and plans to appeal the decision.

BetaBeacon

October 8, 2024

After defeat against Epic Games, US judge orders Google to allow rivals to set up app stores on Android phones

A US judge has ruled that Google must allow rival app stores access to its Android smartphone operating system, following an antitrust case brought by Epic Games. The injunction, which Google is appealing, restricts certain anticompetitive practices for the next three years, including revenue sharing with potential competitors and requiring developers to exclusively launch apps on the Play Store. Despite being applicable only in the US, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney sees this as an opportunity to create a more competitive Android ecosystem. Phones running on the Android operating system hold a 70% share of the global smartphone market.

AppWizard

October 8, 2024

US: Court orders Google to open Android to rival app stores

A California jury has ruled that Google has an illegal monopoly over its Android Play Store, requiring the company to allow alternative in-app payment methods and the download of competing third-party app stores for three years. Key restrictions include prohibiting Google from paying smartphone manufacturers for preinstalling its app store and preventing revenue sharing from the Play Store with other app distributors. A three-person Technical Committee will oversee compliance, with the order effective from November 1 and certain provisions required by July 1. Google plans to appeal the ruling, arguing it may harm consumers, developers, and manufacturers. Android devices represent about 70% of the global smartphone market, and manufacturers can install the Android app for free if the Play Store is prominently featured.

AppWizard

September 18, 2024

Epic rolling out Fab asset marketplace in October

Epic Games will launch its new unified asset marketplace, Fab, in October, integrating functionalities from existing platforms like the Unreal Engine Marketplace, Sketchfab, ArtStation Marketplace, and Quixel. From the launch until the end of 2024, Epic will share 100% of revenue from sales on Fab, shifting to 88% for publishers starting in 2025. Publishers on the Unreal Engine Marketplace will be invited to migrate to Fab in mid-September, with Sketchfab publishers following in early October. Fab will support assets for Unreal Engine, Unity, and other game engines, with plans for future enhancements including new file formats for platforms like Minecraft and Roblox, access to MetaHumans, a ratings and review system, product FAQs, and improved analytics.

AppWizard

September 9, 2024

Roblox increases revenue share for paid titles, sometimes

Roblox has announced an increase in the revenue share for creators of premium titles, allowing developers to retain between 50 and 70 percent of revenue from real-world money purchases on desktop, up from approximately 30 percent previously. This new revenue-sharing structure will eventually extend to other platforms. The company projects it could account for 10 percent of all global games revenue and anticipates a user base of approximately 300 million daily active users, with around 80 percent primarily engaging in gaming.