Deep Silver and have announced that the digital PC version of Metro Exodus is now exclusive to the Epic Games Store. Anyone who has pre-ordered the game via another store (i.e. Steam) will still get their copy, but new purchasers can only get the game from Epic.
The reason seems pretty clear: money. Epic take a much smaller cut of a games sold via their store.
“We are delighted to partner with Epic to bring the digital PC version of Metro Exodus to market,” said Dr. Klemens Kundratitz, CEO at Deep Silver. “Epic’s generous revenue terms are a game changer that will allow publishers to invest more into content creation, or pass on savings to the players. By teaming up with Epic we will be able to invest more into the future of Metro and our ongoing partnership with series developer 4A Games, to the benefit of our Metro fans.”
The previous Metro games will also be heading to the Epic store later this year.
On the other side of the table, Steam added a rather dejected sounding statement to the Steam page:
Notice: Later today, sales of Metro Exodus will be discontinued on Steam due to a publisher decision to make the game exclusive to another PC store.
The developer and publisher have assured us that all prior sales of the game on Steam will be fulfilled on Steam, and Steam owners will be able to access the game and any future updates or DLC through Steam.
We think the decision to remove the game is unfair to Steam customers, especially after a long pre-sale period. We apologize to Steam customers that were expecting it to be available for sale through the February 15th release date, but we were only recently informed of the decision and given limited time to let everyone know.
UPDATE: THQ have stated that the decision to move to Epic was that of Koch Media, not THQ. Although THQ own Koch they are run independently.
The decision to publish Metro Exodus as a timed Epic Store exclusive was made entirely on Koch Media’s side as Metro is their intellectual property. They are a sister company of THQ Nordic (Vienna), which is the reason why we can and will not comment on this matter. We do
— THQ Nordic (@THQNordic) January 29, 2019
MrYd
The reason’s not quite as clear as just “money” though.
Yes, Epic are taking a smaller share of the money. But it looks like they’ll be selling it for less, and so the amount the developers are getting is the same as it would be on Steam (give or take a few pence by rounding up the price to the nearest 99p price)
It looks more like Epic throwing some money around to get the game as a timed exclusive. It’s bad enough when MS or Sony throw some money at a game to get a timed exclusive, although it’s sort of understandable if that money helps the game get made. But paying for a timed exclusive on 1 store? When it wouldn’t make any difference if it was available on Steam, except for that money that’s a bit too late to help with developing the game? And after you’ve had it up for pre-order and got some publicity that way?
I guess Steam are just going to be doing calm statements of disappointment for a while then? While hoping it all blows up in Epic’s face?
MrYd
Also, I thought it was a ridiculously long timed exclusive they’ve got there. Until I realised it’s only a year of exclusivity, and it’s not a whole 2 years. Because it’s 2019, and not still 2018. Something I struggle with until sometime around Easter.
Tuffcub
Cheaper price = more sales = more revenue. So no, they will still be earning more than they did on Steam.
MrYd
And it turns out the cheaper price might not apply to the UK.
So they just need the same sales to get the same revenue (due to Epic taking a smaller cut). Sales they won’t get unless the Epic store is a big success. Or the internet helps by giving them all the free advertising they seem to be getting.
I just worry it’s going to end badly. If Metro Exodus fails to sell as well while it’s exclusive, that could mean anything from “no 4th game” all the way to “developers go tits up”.
And for absolutely no benefit to the consumers.
Stefan L
It’s a digital storefront exclusivity on an open platform, and they’re honouring pre-orders placed on Steam. And aside from that, it’s still going to be available on both home consoles.
If your doomsday scenario plays out, it won’t be Epic store exclusivity, but things like game appeal, marketing, choice of release date alongside Far Cry, Crackdown and Jump Force.