Epic Games Store Plans to Be on Next Xbox Console at Day One — What This Means for Gaming
Epic Games has confirmed ambitious plans for its Epic Games Store to be available on the next‑generation Xbox console from day one, a move that could reshape how digital stores and game purchases work on consoles in the future. According to Steve Allison, Vice President and General Manager of the Epic Games Store, Microsoft has indicated it is open to welcoming third‑party storefronts on its next Xbox, and Epic intends to take full advantage of that opportunity.
“We definitely plan to be on the new hardware for Xbox… they’re going to welcome that. And we’re going to be there, like, on day one,” Allison said in an interview discussing Epic’s broader strategic goals. He explained that this would likely require Epic to build specific software or integrations to meet Microsoft’s technical and platform requirements, but the company is prepared to do so.
If this plan comes to fruition, it will represent a significant shift in the console ecosystem: players could access the Epic Games Store directly on an Xbox console, potentially alongside Microsoft’s own digital Marketplace. Currently, consoles are dominated by platform‑specific storefronts — such as Xbox’s store, Sony’s PlayStation Store, and Nintendo’s eShop — with limited support for external launchers.
Epic’s vision builds on wider industry trends toward ecosystem openness. Previously, Microsoft has expressed interest in supporting third‑party distribution on console platforms — including Steam and Epic Games Store — as part of efforts to broaden choice for players, especially as consoles evolve toward hybrid PC‑like experiences. This could align with emerging next‑generation Xbox systems that are rumored to blend PC features and support multiple digital retailers.
It’s important to note that this doesn’t automatically mean all Epic Games Store titles will run on Xbox at launch — developers would still need to port and approve their games for the platform. Rather, the Epic Games Store app itself would be present from day one, giving players a unified hub to browse and manage supported titles.
Industry analysts say this could signal a broader shift in how consoles handle digital content distribution, potentially creating a more open and competitive marketplace that benefits consumers by offering more choice and pricing options across different storefronts.