Epic Games

Name

Epic Games

Legal name

Epic Games, Inc.

Website

https://epicgames.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Game Development Software and Interactive Entertainment

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Retail-Computer & Computer Software Stores (5734), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Game Engines (General-Purpose & Real-Time 3D) (MPAFAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console) (MPAFAAAA), PC & Console Game Distribution Platforms (BPAMAKAA)

Keywords

• Game development engine
• Digital game distribution
• Interactive entertainment software
• Game engine licensing
• Live service gaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Cary

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Epic Games Store Commission: Epic Games takes a 12% flat commission on game sales through its digital store, significantly lower than Steam's tiered 30%/25%/20% structure. This is the primary revenue model for third-party game distribution.
2. In-Game Purchases (V-Bucks): Fortnite generates revenue through V-Bucks currency sales used to purchase cosmetic items (skins, emotes, battle passes), collaborations, and other in-game content. This is the company's largest consumer revenue stream.
3. Unreal Engine Licensing: Epic licenses Unreal Engine to game developers with royalty arrangements. UE5 has been adopted by over 90% of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S games and is widely used across the gaming industry.
4. Creator Revenue Share (UEFN): Epic shares 40% of Island revenue with UEFN developers. Creators have collectively earned $1 billion since UEFN's 2023 launch, with approximately 3,000 Islands now generating more revenue through in-game transactions than the original payout model.
5. Settlement and Legal Proceeds: Epic received approximately $800 million in a secret deal with Google where Epic agreed to promote Fortnite in the Play Store, as part of the settlement following Epic's 2020 antitrust lawsuit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Epic Games is an interactive entertainment company that develops and operates flagship live-service games (Fortnite, Rocket League, Fall Guys), licenses its Unreal Engine real-time 3D creation platform to game developers and other industries, and operates the Epic Games Store digital distribution platform and the Fab.com marketplace for digital content. The company combines first-party game publishing with B2B engine licensing and creator/developer marketplaces.

Product overview

Epic Games operates a diversified portfolio centered on game development technology and live-service gaming platforms. The core offerings include Unreal Engine (a leading game development engine with the upcoming UE6 unification with UEFN), the Epic Games Store (PC digital distribution platform currently undergoing major redesign), and Fortnite (the flagship live-service game serving as both entertainment platform and testing ground for engine features). Supporting infrastructure includes Fab.com (3D asset marketplace acquired via Sketchfab), Lore (open-source version control system for game assets), and Verse (scripting language for UE6). Acquired studios include Harmonix (music games) and Psyonix (Rocket League). The company positions itself at the intersection of game development tools, digital distribution, and metaverse experiences with investments from Sony and Kirkbi/Lego.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fortnite: Free-to-play battle royale game that has expanded to include creative modes, concerts, and collaborations with various IP partners
• Unreal Engine
• Epic Games Store
• Rocket League
• Lore
• Fab

Products and services

• Fortnite Fortnite is a free-to-play live-service battle royale and creative game with an in-game economy (V-Bucks), battle passes, cosmetic item shop, and in-game experiences (UEFN). It targets consumers and creators of all ages and is operated as a cross-platform persistent online world.
• Unreal Engine Unreal Engine is a real-time 3D creation platform used by game developers, film/TV studios, automotive, architecture, and other industries. It is licensed on a royalty basis (5% of gross revenue above $1M) to professional creators and is also available free to qualifying creators.
• Epic Games Store The Epic Games Store is a PC, macOS, and (in select regions) iOS digital game distribution platform with a flat 12% commission, free-game giveaways, and the self-publishing tools for third-party developers. It targets both consumers (buyers) and developers/publishers (sellers).
• Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) UEFN is a free, creator-facing toolset that lets third-party developers design, publish, and monetize games and experiences inside Fortnite. It targets individual creators, indie studios, and brand IP owners who want to reach Fortnite's audience.
• Fab.com
• Rocket League
• Twinmotion
• Lore

Quantifiable outcome

• UEFN creators have earned $1 billion since 2023 launch
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, marketing, strategic, flagship and core.

• SEGA (Sonic)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Sonic x Fortnite crossover event launching later in 2026 as collaboration with Sonic Racing CrossWorlds expansion.
• Hyundai Motor CompanymarketingGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 June 2026FIFA World Cup 2026 partnership bringing Hyundai IONIQ 6 N Line vehicle to Fortnite and Rocket League as playable content. Includes exclusive 'Next Starts Now Cup' Rocket League tournament. Hyundai has been FIFA World Cup sponsor since 1999.
• genDESIGN (Fumito Ueda)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Epic Games funding and publishing Gen Atlas from ICO and Shadow of the Colossus creator Fumito Ueda. Releasing on Epic Games Store, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Previously codenamed Project Robot.
• The Walt Disney CompanyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Disney invested $1.5 billion for an equity stake in Epic Games in February 2024 as part of a partnership to build an integrated entertainment universe. Disney transferred Star Wars and Simpsons franchise rights to Fortnite's UEFN. Star Wars UEFN collaboration reached 8 million players in 72 hours. Simpsons season attracted 80 million players with 750 million hours played. Disney reportedly considering full acquisition of Epic Games.
• Marvel EntertainmentmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Ongoing collaboration bringing Marvel characters including Spider-Man, Supergirl, and various Avengers to Fortnite as skins and content. Marvel skins return to Fortnite Item Shop through 'Unvaulted' initiative after 18-month battle pass exclusivity.
• Lego GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2022Partnership with Epic Games to create a virtual platform for kids, announced alongside the $2 billion Sony/KIRKBI investment. Aims to develop safe, family-friendly digital experiences combining digital and physical play.
• Harmonix Music SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 November 2021Epic Games acquired Harmonix, the music game studio known for Rock Band and FUSER. Harmonix continues to support existing games including Rock Band 4 while developing new musical experiences for Fortnite and the metaverse.
• SketchfabcoreTechnology or Integration · 21 July 2021Epic acquired Sketchfab, a 3D marketplace for AR/VR content, to enhance accessibility to 3D, AR, and VR content for creators. Sketchfab operates independently while integrating with Epic's ecosystem. Store fees reduced to 12% following acquisition.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Unity Technologies: Unity is Epic's primary direct competitor in the game engine market, offering the Unity Engine for game development across PC, console, mobile, and emerging platforms. Both companies license engines to game developers and increasingly compete in UGC and live-service tooling, making Unity the most directly comparable peer on the engine side.
• Valve Corporation: Valve operates Steam, the dominant PC game distribution platform with 74-75% market share and 132M MAU, directly competing with the Epic Games Store. Valve also licenses the Source engine, placing it in direct competition with Epic's Unreal Engine across both engine and distribution.
• Roblox Corporation: Roblox is a direct competitor in the user-generated gaming platform space, running a creator economy where developers build and monetize experiences. Roblox competes with UEFN for creator mindshare and with Fortnite for teen audience attention and entertainment IP collaborations.

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft (Xbox Game Studios): Microsoft operates Xbox, owns Activision Blizzard and Bethesda, and competes across consoles, game publishing, and distribution. As both a major consumer of Unreal Engine and a console platform holder, Microsoft is simultaneously a customer, channel partner, and competitor to Epic.
• Sony Interactive Entertainment: Sony operates PlayStation and licenses Unreal Engine for its first-party studios while also being a $1B Epic investor. Sony competes via exclusive AAA titles and platform distribution, making it both an investor and channel partner whose interests are partially aligned and partially competitive with Epic.
• Take-Two Interactive: Take-Two is a major AAA publisher (GTA, Red Dead, NBA 2K) and Unreal Engine customer. It competes with Epic for gamer attention via flagship IPs while distributing titles through the Epic Games Store, making it a peer in both game publishing and engine licensing.
• Electronic Arts: EA is a major AAA publisher (EA Sports FC, Apex Legends, Battlefield) and Unreal Engine customer. It competes directly with Fortnite in the battle royale genre via Apex Legends and shares distribution on the Epic Games Store alongside Steam and consoles.
• Krafton: Krafton developed PUBG, the foundational battle royale competitor to Fortnite, and uses Unreal Engine. The two companies compete for battle royale leadership on PC, console, and mobile, with Krafton also being a channel partner via the Epic Games Store.
• Supercell: Supercell is a leading mobile F2P game developer (Clash Royale, Brawl Stars) and a competitor for gamer attention across platforms. Both companies share F2P monetization mechanics and live-service expertise, though Supercell operates primarily on mobile.
• CD Projekt: CD Projekt is an AAA developer (Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher) using Unreal Engine for upcoming titles and distributing through the Epic Games Store. It shares AAA premium-game ambitions with Epic and uses Epic's technology and distribution as a strategic partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/epicgames
• GitHubgithub.com/EpicGames
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/EpicGames
• Facebookfacebook.com/epicgames
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epic-games
• Instagraminstagram.com/epicgames
• TikToktiktok.com/@epicgames

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds15 records

Investors55 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A20 records

Investments36 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Epic Games