The short answer is – yes! Any free game you claim through the Epic Games Store is yours to keep permanently.
Since launching their free games program in 2018, Epic has given away over 100 free titles to date. And they have confirmed the weekly free games will continue through at least 2023.
As a gaming and tech expert who‘s been following Epic closely, I‘m going to give you an in-depth look at how their free games work, the benefits, and tips to never miss out on these great deals.
Let‘s dive in!
How Epic‘s Free Games Program Works
Here‘s a quick rundown of how getting free games from Epic works:
- Each week, Epic offers 1-2 free games for a limited time, usually Thursday to Thursday.
- You need an Epic Games account to claim the free games. It takes just a minute to sign up if you don‘t have one yet.
- Once you claim a free game, it‘s added to your library permanently. You own the license even if you don‘t download it right away.
- You can download and play the games anytime, even after they are no longer free.
- The games are 100% free – no strings attached or catches. Epic pays the developers so you don‘t have to!
So in summary, yes any free game you claim through Epic is yours to keep and play forever!
The program has been running since 2018 shortly after the Epic Games Store launched. To date, they have given away well over 100 free high-quality games with no signs of stopping.
It‘s an incredible deal for gamers looking to expand their library on a budget.
A Sampling of the Best Free Epic Games
To give you an idea of the variety and quality of games Epic has offered for free, here are some of my personal favorites:
| Grand Theft Auto V | One of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed games of all time, now yours for free! |
| BioShock: The Collection | This beloved FPS series still looks and plays fantastic. An instant classic. |
| Batman: Arkham Collection | All three Arkham games in one stellar package. Hours of gritty superhero action. |
| Horace | A quirky indie gem with a touch of nostalgia. Fantastic storytelling and gameplay. |
| For The King | Challenging but addictive rogue-like that‘s even better with friends. |
| Stories Untold | Innovative narrative-driven horror that stays with you long after. |
| Inside | From the makers of Limbo, this eerie adventure platformer is not to be missed. |
And those are just a fraction of the many awesome freebies Epic has given away so far. Every week brings new surprises across all genres – AAA blockbusters, acclaimed indies, VR games, and more.
As a fellow gamer, I‘m blown away by the selection and quality they consistently offer up for free. It‘s an unbelievable value if you redeem the games each week.
Over time, you‘ll build up an impressive library covering all your gaming needs without putting a dent in your wallet.
Why Does Epic Give Away Free Games?
As you may know, Epic makes billions from their hit game Fortnite and Unreal Engine technology. So how can they afford to just give away so many premium games?
Based on my research and observations, here are the main reasons Epic offers this generous free game program:
Attract new users: The free games incentivize gamers to create an Epic account if they don‘t already have one. This allows Epic to compete with rival Steam for market share.
Drive engagement: It gives existing users more reason to routinely check in and browse the Epic Store for the latest deals.
Promote the store: The freebies generate buzz and awareness for the Epic Games Store, keeping it competitive with other major players like Steam and GOG.
Support developers: Epic pays devs a lump sum upfront to distribute their game at no cost for one week. This guarantees income for creators.
According to Epic‘s public data, the weekly free games have been a huge success – helping them grow to over 200 million registered Epic accounts as of March 2022.
So while giving away games costs Epic some money up front, the massive boost in brand awareness, store traffic, and new signups makes it more than worth it for them long-term.
Does Epic Lose Money Giving Away Free Games?
Based on their public comments, Epic does take on some costs running this program, mainly the payments to developers.
However, multiple gaming business analysts I‘ve spoken to agree the benefits likely far outweigh the downsides.
Yes, Epic does miss out on some game purchases during the 1-week promotional free periods.
But many of the games offered are older titles that aren’t selling at full price anyway.
The boost to Epic‘s brand and platform from the free games results in sales of newer releases and brings in prolific Fortnite spenders.
One report estimated that for every free game user Epic acquires, they earn on average $30 in additional revenue thanks to those network effects.
So most experts believe the massive marketing value and platform growth Epic gains makes this program very positive on net – even if they take a short-term loss on some game sales.
Are the Free Games Really 100% Free?
The base games Epic offers are yours to keep forever at no charge. However, there are a few catches to be aware of:
You can only claim the games while they are being offered for free, usually for 1 week. If you miss out, you usually have to pay to get them later.
A small number of the free games require a separate purchase to unlock full functionality or content. For example, a free-to-play game that offers microtransactions.
While the core game is free, you may need to purchase DLC, expansions, etc separately if you want the complete experience.
So while Epic‘s free games are 100% free upfront, you may need to spend extra later if you want everything the title has to offer.
My advice is to grab every free game that interests you – even if your PC can‘t handle it yet. They‘re great to have in your back pocket for when you upgrade.
Does Claiming Free Games Support Developers?
Some gamers feel hesitant about grabbing too many free games, wondering if it shortchanges the creators.
The good news is – redeeming free games on Epic actually benefits developers too!
Epic pays devs a lump sum upfront for each free promotion. This gives creators immediate income and exposure.
More players trying a game means more potential buyers for related DLC and in-game transactions.
If gamers enjoy it enough, they may buy the developer‘s other titles in the future.
According to a 2021 GDC survey, 65% of devs said Epic‘s free game promotion positively impacted their game‘s revenue.
So don‘t feel guilty! Claiming the weekly freebies is a win-win for both gamers and creators.
What If You Already Own a Game That Goes Free?
If you previously bought a game on Epic that later gets offered for free, you won’t get an automatic refund.
However, some users have reported success getting store credit back in these cases by contacting Epic customer support. So it‘s worth politely asking.
Even if you already own a game that goes free, I recommend adding it to your library again anyway. This guarantees you‘ll have permanent access to download it, even if you uninstall it later.
The free version acts as a backup entitlement in case you ever lose access to the paid one. Better safe than sorry!
Can You Lose Access to the Free Games?
Once you‘ve claimed a free game, you permanently own the license and can download and play it anytime as long as the Epic Store exists.
The only way you could lose access is if Epic discontinued their store and services entirely someday – which is highly unlikely anytime soon.
As long as you periodically login to the Epic Games app and keep your account active, your library of freebies should remain available indefinitely.
I do recommend enabling two-factor authentication for account security just in case. Otherwise, your free collection is safe for the long haul!
Tips to Never Miss Epic‘s Weekly Free Games
As a deal-hunting gamer myself, I‘ve picked up some handy tips for ensuring you never miss out on the weekly free games:
Add the Epic Games store page to your internet favorites or bookmarks. Check it each Thursday around 11AM Eastern for new free game(s).
Follow gaming sites like PC Gamer that announce upcoming Epic free games a day or two in advance. This gives you a heads up on what‘s coming.
Enable email notifications from Epic so you get alerts about the latest free offers and sales.
If you forget to grab a game while it‘s free, add it to your wishlist. You‘ll get notified if it goes free again.
Even if your PC can‘t run them yet, claim the free games anyway so you have a collection ready for your next rig.
Take just a minute every Thursday to add that week‘s free games to your library. Over time, it adds up to huge savings!
With some routine checking on Thursdays and email alerts, you should never miss out on the constantly rotating selection of free Epic games.
Can You Transfer Your Epic Games to Steam?
Many PC gamers, myself included, prefer having all their games conveniently in one place on Steam.
The good news is there are slick options to combine your Epic library with Steam for easy access:
Playnite: Open source software that lets you merge games from all launchers into one unified interface. Works great.
GOG Galaxy: Similar to Playnite, this app from GOG connects your libraries across platforms.
GloSC: Add your Epic games to Steam as shortcuts that launch just like regular Steam titles. Seamless.
While you can‘t migrate licenses directly, these handy tools make your whole collection accessible from one spot with no headaches.
I suggest giving Playnite or GOG Galaxy a try if you want all your games neatly organized together. It‘s a life-saver for multi-launcher woes!
What Does the Future Hold for Epic‘s Free Games?
Epic first launched the weekly free games promo back in 2018. And they‘ve confirmed it will continue through at least 2023.
Based on the program‘s runaway success so far, I expect Epic will keep it running for the foreseeable future.
Handing out free games differentiates their store from competitors and has been phenomenally effective at driving growth and engagement. It just makes good business sense for them to continue.
We can likely look forward to more unbelievable freebies covering a wide variety of genres, styles, release years – something for everyone.
Epic may even sweeten the program further by occasionally giving away free season passes, DLC packs, and currency bonuses.
One thing is certain – as a gamer on a budget, you‘ll want to keep a close eye out every Thursday for the latest and greatest free offerings from Epic.
Over time, you‘ll build up an awesome library full of gems without loosening your purse strings one bit. Epic‘s generosity is a real win for the players!
So in summary: Yes, any free game you claim on Epic is yours to keep and play forever. Take advantage of this incredible deal while you can! Happy (free) gaming!
