Epic Games Store Launches First Run Program

Epic Games has introduced the First Run program, a strategic initiative designed to incentivize third-party developers to launch new titles exclusively on the Epic Games Store. The program’s primary value proposition allows participating developers to retain 100% of their revenue during the first six months of a game's release. Following this initial period, the revenue split reverts to the platform's standard 88/12 model.

To qualify for the program, titles must be new releases launching on or after October 16, 2023, and must not have been previously released on other third-party PC storefronts or included in PC subscription services. The six-month exclusivity window includes any time spent in Early Access. While participants are prohibited from selling their games on competing platforms like Steam or the Microsoft Store during this term, they retain the ability to sell through their own websites, publisher-owned stores, and specific keyless redemption programs.

In exchange for this exclusivity, Epic Games provides promotional support, including featuring titles in sales campaigns and applying a distinct exclusivity badge to the product page. Developers maintain the flexibility to exit the program at any time, which immediately restores the standard revenue-sharing agreement and permits distribution on other platforms. Registration for the program is facilitated through Epic’s self-publishing tools, aiming to attract new content to the store while offering developers a higher initial return on their investment.