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Why does Epic give away free games?

Because it's the cheapest way Epic has found to win new players from Steam. Here's who pays, what Epic and developers get, and whether there's a catch for you. This week's free games: Sker Ritual, Home - A Unique Horror Adventure, Bad Cheese, Agent A: A puzzle in disguise, GetHigh.EXE, Terraspace.

Updated . We check every morning.

Short answer

Epic gives away games to win new users for its store and launcher. It pays each developer a negotiated flat fee, not the full price per copy, and treats the program as marketing: Epic says it brings in 7 to 12 million new players a year for about a quarter of what ads would cost. For you there's no catch: claim the game with a free Epic account and it stays in your library for good. Free on Epic right now: Sker Ritual, Home - A Unique Horror Adventure, Bad Cheese, Agent A: A puzzle in disguise, GetHigh.EXE, Terraspace (the first of these ends Thu Oct 29, 10:00 AM CT (11:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM PT)).

Updated . Free games pulled from Epic's own free games list.

💸 Who pays for the free games?

  • Epic does, with a flat fee. Tim Sweeney said in 2021 that giveaways are negotiated with each developer as a fixed payment, not a fee per copy claimed (The Verge).
  • It's cheaper than it looks. Documents from Epic's court case with Apple showed Epic spent $11.6 million on free games in the program's first nine months (PC Gamer).
  • About $20 million a year today. Epic Games Store boss Steve Allison says the budget "hovers around the $20 million mark" and Epic views it as its marketing budget (GamesRadar+).

📈 What Epic gets out of it

  • New users. Allison says 7 to 12 million new players come through the free games program every year, and 16 to 18% of them go on to buy something.
  • Cheap marketing. Sweeney says it costs about a quarter of what Epic would pay to win the same users with Facebook or Google ads, and the money goes to game developers instead.
  • A habit. Epic gave out 662 million free copies in 2025. Checking in every Thursday keeps people opening Epic's launcher, where Fortnite and paid games are a click away.
  • A shot at Steam. Epic is still second to Steam on PC, and free games are its main way to get Steam players to install a second launcher.

🎮 What developers get

  • Guaranteed money up front, whatever the number of claims.
  • Millions of new players: Epic says even its smallest weekly games get 6.5 to 7 million claims (The Verge).
  • Often more sales elsewhere: Allison says games in the program see, on average, a 40% lift in Steam player counts while they're free on Epic (Polygon). That's why studios often time a giveaway just before a sequel or DLC.

🔍 Is there a catch for you?

  • No payment. The order total is $0.00. You keep the game even if Epic never sells you anything.
  • You need a free Epic account to claim, and the Epic Games Launcher to download and play.
  • Claim before the deadline. Each game is free for a week (Thursday 10:00 AM CT to the next Thursday). Claim it and it's yours forever, even if you never install it.
  • Base game only. DLC and deluxe editions usually aren't included, so pick the $0.00 edition.

Step-by-step: how to claim free Epic games.

🎁 Free on Epic right now (6)

⏭️ Up next on Epic

  • Sorry We're ClosedEpic Games Store · normally $24.99 · free from Thu Oct 29, 10:00 AM CT (11:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM PT) · until Thu Nov 5, 10:00 AM CTNEXT

Upcoming games can't be claimed until the start time shown.

🔗 More free games

Free Epic games this week · Next free Epic game · Free games this weekend · Free horror games · All free games this week · Epic hub · How to claim free Epic games · What time Epic free games change · Why Epic gives away free games

FAQ

Why does Epic give away free games?

Epic gives away games to win new users for its store and launcher. It pays each developer a negotiated flat fee, not the full price per copy, and treats the program as marketing: Epic says it brings in 7 to 12 million new players a year for about a quarter of what ads would cost. For you there's no catch: claim the game with a free Epic account and it stays in your library for good. Free on Epic right now: Sker Ritual, Home - A Unique Horror Adventure, Bad Cheese, Agent A: A puzzle in disguise, GetHigh.EXE, Terraspace (the first of these ends Thu Oct 29, 10:00 AM CT (11:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM PT)).

Are Epic's free games really free?

Yes. The order total is $0.00 and no payment method is needed. Once claimed, the game stays in your Epic library permanently.

How much does Epic pay for free games?

Epic pays each developer a negotiated flat fee. The total budget is about $20 million a year, according to Epic Games Store general manager Steve Allison. Court documents showed $11.6 million in the program's first nine months.

Does Epic lose money on free games?

It's a cost, but Epic counts it as marketing: Tim Sweeney says it wins new users for about a quarter of the cost of Facebook or Google ads, and 16 to 18% of those users go on to buy games.

Will Epic keep giving away free games?

Epic says it plans to. Allison told GamesRadar+ he doesn't see a change, though the cadence could shift. New free games currently arrive every Thursday at 10:00 AM CT (11:00 AM ET).

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