Epic Games Store finally adds gifting
Since its debut in December 2018, Epic Games Store positioned itself as a modern alternative to Steam — offering better revenue shares for developers, frequent free games, and timed exclusives.
Yet, many users and critics have pointed out how slow Epic has been to roll out essential store features. The introduction of a gifting system in November 2025 — something Steam implemented back in 2007 — underlines the structural lag.
This long delay helps explain why, despite its efforts, Epic Games Store is still seen as “the second store” compared to Steam: many core functionalities have taken far too long to arrive.
What the new gifting feature offers
With this update, Epic users can now:
- Purchase a game as a gift and send it to another user, either immediately or scheduled for later.
- If the recipient already owns the game, they can decline it and receive a refund — avoiding wasted purchases.
- Finally have a gifting option similar to major platforms like Steam: ideal for giving games to friends, gifting for holidays or birthdays, and managing purchases more flexibly.
Although a welcomed improvement, many players see it as a belated addition to a basic feature set.
Other long-standing gaps that weigh heavily
Epic’s history has been marked by missing features: from lack of a shopping cart, wish lists, detailed library management or advanced browsing tools — elements Steam has offered for years.
Despite free-game giveaways and favorable revenue sharing, these repeated omissions have constrained Epic’s ability to compete on equal footing with Steam.
What this means for players and for Epic
- Players gain more flexibility — now gifting games, sharing with friends or planning surprises becomes viable.
- Epic Games takes a step toward catching up, acknowledging past shortcomings. But the delay leaves a lasting impression: many see it as a “second-class” store.
- For competitors, especially Steam, this reaffirms their dominance. Their extended history of stable, comprehensive features remains a clear advantage.
In short: the gifting system is a useful addition, but its late arrival reinforces why Steam remains the standard in PC game distribution.
Conclusion
Adding game gifting to Epic Games Store was overdue — and its arrival in 2025 highlights how far behind it was.
This move shows that after years of criticism, Epic is finally addressing core missing functionalities. But for many players, it’s a case of “too little, too late.”
The new feature is a welcome update — but also a reminder of why other storefronts remain preferred by most gamers.
