Epic Games: What's Trending and Why It Matters

Epic Games has cemented its position as a major player in the gaming industry, not just through its groundbreaking Unreal Engine and cultural phenomenon Fortnite, but also with its rapidly expanding Epic Games Store. As Google Trends indicates a surge of interest in Epic Games, it's crucial to delve into what's currently trending on their platform and understand the driving forces behind this popularity. This post will explore the latest happenings, popular titles, and the overall impact of Epic Games on the gaming landscape, including important security measures like Fortnite 2FA.

Epic Games Store: A Look Back at 2024 and Beyond

The Epic Games Store (EGS) continues to be a significant force in digital game distribution, and its annual "Year in Review" provides valuable insights into its growth and strategic direction. The 2024 review highlighted several key achievements and trends:

• User Growth: The EGS reached a new milestone of 295 million PC users in 2024, an increase of 25 million users year-over-year. The average Daily Active User (DAU) count was 31.5 million, up 6%, and average Monthly Active Users (MAU) reached 67.2 million, also up 6% [1].
• Revenue: Overall spending on the store increased by 15%, reaching $1.09 billion. However, spending on third-party games saw an 18% decrease, totaling $255 million [2]. This suggests a strong performance from Epic's first-party titles and free game offerings.
• Free Games Program: The free games program remains a massive draw, with Epic giving away 89 games in 2024. Users claimed these free titles 595 million times, showcasing the immense popularity and effectiveness of this strategy in attracting and retaining users [3].

These figures underscore Epic's commitment to expanding its user base through aggressive strategies like free game giveaways, while also highlighting the challenges in driving third-party sales on the platform.

References

[1] Epic Games Store 2024 Year in Review - https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/news/epic-games-store-2024-year-in-review [2] Epic Games Store 2024 Year in Review - Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1ipdwb7/epic_games_store_2024_year_in_review/ [3] GameDevReports: Epic Games Store 2024 Year in Review | IconEra - https://icon-era.com/threads/gamedevreports-epic-games-store-2024-year-in-review.16146/

Trending Games on the Epic Games Store

The "Trending PC Titles" section of the Epic Games Store offers a real-time snapshot of what's capturing players' attention. While specific titles can fluctuate, several categories and individual Fortnite games consistently appear, indicating broader trends:

• Anticipated Releases: Games marked "Coming Soon" or with future release dates often trend due to pre-release hype and anticipation. Titles like Ready or Not, MAVRIX by Matt Jones, PowerWash Simulator 2, Subnautica 2, Bloody Hell Hotel, The Wolf Among Us 2, Judas, Jurassic Park: Survival, Anno 117: Pax Romana, Borderlands 4, House Flipper 2, Jurassic World Evolution 3, Nivalis, Where Winds Meet, SILENT HILL f, Farming Simulator 25, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and Chrono Odyssey are examples of upcoming games generating significant buzz.
• Free-to-Play Successes: Games like Warframe and BloodLoop consistently trend, demonstrating the power of the free-to-play model in attracting and retaining a large player base. These games often feature ongoing content updates and strong community engagement.
• Discounted Popular Titles: Significant discounts on established titles also drive trends. Games like DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT, theHunter: Call of the Wild™, Blazing Sails, Need for Speed™ Heat Deluxe Edition, STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order Standard Edition, STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ II: Celebration Edition, Battlefield 4™ Premium Edition, and Need for Speed™ Most Wanted see renewed interest when offered at reduced prices.
• Indie and Niche Gems: The Epic Games Store also provides a platform for smaller, unique titles to gain traction. Games like Backpack Hero, DEVOUR, and Voodoo Detective show that there's a strong appetite for diverse gaming experiences beyond AAA blockbusters.

These trending titles reflect a dynamic ecosystem where new releases, free offerings, strategic discounts, and a diverse catalog all contribute to player engagement. Epic Games' strategy of securing exclusive titles and offering frequent free games plays a significant role in shaping these trends and attracting a broad audience.

Securing Your Epic Games Account: Understanding Fortnite 2FA

With the immense popularity of Fortnite, account security has become paramount. Epic Games strongly encourages players to enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for their accounts. This crucial security feature adds an extra layer of protection beyond just your password, making it significantly harder for unauthorized users to access your account.

What is 2FA Fortnite?

2FA Fortnite (Two-Factor Authentication) requires you to enter a unique code from a secondary device or method (like an authenticator app or email) in addition to your password when logging in. This means even if someone gets your password, they can't access your account without that second code.

How to Enable 2FA for Fortnite (and Your Epic Games Account)

Enabling 2FA Fortnite is a straightforward process and highly recommended for all players. You can typically find instructions on the official Epic Games website, often by searching for "fortnite com 2fa" or "https fortnite 2fa". The steps generally involve:

1. Logging into your Epic Games account.
2. Navigating to your account settings or password & security section.
3. Choosing your preferred 2FA method (e.g., authenticator app, email authentication).
4. Following the on-screen prompts to link your chosen method.

Enabling 2FA Fortnite not only protects your account from unauthorized access but also often grants in-game rewards in Fortnite games. This is a win-win for security and gameplay.

Fortnite on Android and Epic Games Download

For players looking to enjoy Fortnite on the go, the Fortnite Android version is available. To get the official Epic Games download for Fortnite on Android, it's important to download directly from the Epic Games website or the Epic Games Store app, as it's not available on the Google Play Store. This ensures you get the legitimate and secure version of the game.