The retro-inspired Western shooter recently launched on Xbox through the ID@Xbox program and supports Xbox Play Anywhere. It also became available for free on the Epic Games Store over the holidays as part of their annual free games promotion, helping it reach even more players.
Initially, a free release like that doesn’t seem like a big deal. But surprisingly, it actually led to a jump in sales on Steam. This suggests the free giveaway on Epic Games Store didn’t just replace potential Steam purchases – it actually encouraged more people to buy the game on Steam as well, acting like a very effective advertisement.
Going free on Epic Games Store boosts sales on Steam?
I recently discussed how the Epic Games Store has gained a lot more users in recent years. However, while the number of people using the store has increased, spending on games – especially those not made by Epic themselves – hasn’t kept up.
Epic Games still uses free games to attract players, but data shows that many don’t continue using the platform after the free games are gone.
Blood West offers a particularly noteworthy example of how game giveaways can work. The developer reported that after offering the game for free on the Epic Games Store, sales on Steam actually increased by about 200%. Surprisingly, instead of driving players to Epic’s platform, the free giveaway seemed to increase the game’s overall visibility and encourage purchases on Steam.
The game Blood West was given away for free on the Epic Games Store during the holidays, and as a result, sales on Steam more than doubled that day.
This highlights how the Epic Games Store functions more as a way for players to find new games than a place where they’ll stay and play long-term. Players try out free games, become aware of titles they like, and then typically purchase and continue playing on their preferred gaming platform where they already invest their money.
For smaller game developers, releasing a game for free on the Epic Games Store can be a smart marketing move. Instead of seeing it as a lost sale, it’s a way to get noticed by a huge audience they wouldn’t normally reach. In the case of Blood West, this increased visibility seems to have led to more sales on other platforms.
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2026-01-18 23:09