Epic Games Store finally launches gifting, letting you share games with friends

Epic Games Store Embraces Generosity: Gifting Games Now a Reality

The digital marketplace battleground heats up as Epic Games Store finally rolls out a highly anticipated gifting feature, a move that will undoubtedly resonate with its user base. For a long time, this functionality was conspicuously absent, leaving players to manually coordinate purchases for friends. Now, similar to the long-standing capability offered by Steam, Epic is empowering its community to share the joy of gaming.

This expanded gifting system goes beyond just full game titles. Users can now send digital editions, downloadable content (DLC), and various in-game bundles to their companions. Naturally, the system excludes free-to-play titles, pre-orders, subscriptions, and in-game currency, a logical approach to maintain platform integrity and manage expectations.

Seamless Gifting: A Step-by-Step Guide

The process of sending a game is designed for ultimate simplicity. Players need to have funds available in their Epic Games account and ensure the intended recipient is added to their friends list. From the game's dedicated page, a prominent "Gift" button awaits. Clicking this initiates a straightforward selection process, allowing users to choose a friend from their list, append a personal message, and proceed to checkout.

For those who like to plan ahead, a delightful option to schedule the gift delivery is also available. Imagine surprising a friend on their birthday or simply marking the weekend with an unexpected digital treat! This thoughtful addition transforms a simple transaction into a thoughtful gesture.

A Two-Week Window: Acceptance and Rejection Protocol

Once a gift is purchased, it doesn't instantly materialize in the recipient's library. Instead, they are granted a 14-day window to either accept or decline the offer. This grace period is crucial. Should the recipient already own the game, the system intelligently cancels the transaction, and the full purchase amount is automatically refunded to the sender. The same refund policy applies if the friend decides to reject the gift for any reason, ensuring no financial loss for the generous giver.

This new gifting functionality effectively bridges a noticeable gap in the Epic Games Store ecosystem. It addresses a long-standing request from the community, demonstrating Epic's responsiveness to user feedback. This comes shortly after the store enhanced its offerings by enabling pre-loading of purchased games up to five days before their official release, further streamlining the player experience.

The Ever-Evolving Digital Storefront Landscape

The digital storefront arena is a dynamic space, and competitors are not resting on their laurels. Valve, the purveyor of Steam, has been busy refining its platform throughout the year. Recent updates to the Steam client have emerged from beta, introducing features like real and AI-generated screenshots, and robust language filtering for user reviews. This continuous innovation underscores the competitive nature of the industry.

While Epic Games Store still has a considerable journey ahead to match some of Steam's more mature features, the introduction of gifting is a significant stride forward. It’s a testament to their commitment to enhancing the user experience and fostering a more connected community, proving that even seemingly small additions can have a profound impact on player satisfaction.