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Controversy · comment analysis

Does Epic Games Store exclusivity justify a PC boycott?

What YouTube comments on Lords of the Fallen II and gen ATLAS actually reveal about the Epic vs Steam divide, backed by numbers.

Updated: 14/07/2026
For most commenters tracked, Epic Games Store exclusivity doesn't kill the appetite to buy, though it remains a real sticking point. The debate accounts for roughly 15% of discussions around Lords of the Fallen II, where CI Games eventually added Steam, and about 14% around gen ATLAS, which stays Epic-exclusive despite the backlash.

The context

CI Games officially unveiled Lords of the Fallen II on August 19, 2025 at Gamescom's Opening Night Live, confirming releases on PS5, Xbox Series and PC. At the time, the PC version was announced as an Epic Games Store exclusive under a publishing deal signed with Epic in June 2024.

On May 18, 2026, CI Games announced it had signed a separation agreement with Epic Games Publishing, effective April 14, 2026, ending the PC exclusivity. Lords of the Fallen II will therefore launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store simultaneously, while still relying on Unreal Engine 5 and Epic Online Services.

gen ATLAS, developed by Fumito Ueda's studio genDESIGN (Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian) and published by Epic Games Publishing, was teased under the codename "Project Robot" at The Game Awards on December 12, 2024, before being fully revealed under its final title at Summer Game Fest on June 5, 2026. It is set for PS5, Xbox Series and PC, exclusively via the Epic Games Store on PC.

genDESIGN was one of the first three studios, alongside Playdead and Remedy Entertainment, to join the Epic Games Publishing label launched in March 2020, a program under which Epic funds up to 100% of development in exchange for revenue sharing, with studios retaining ownership of their IP.

Sources: Lords of the Fallen II unveiled, releases 2026 on PS5 · 'Lords Of The Fallen II' No Longer Epic Games Store Exclusive, Also Coming to Steam · Epic Games Publishing and genDESIGN announce gen ATLAS · Epic Games - Wikipedia (Epic Games Publishing, mars 2020)

Factual background compiled from public sources — the debate analysis below relies exclusively on the comments.

How we got here

as told by the comments
Before May 2026

Lords of the Fallen II is first announced as an Epic Games Store PC exclusive, which dampens PC players' expressions of interest in the comments.

June 5-6, 2026

CI Games announces a Day One Steam release: a wave of thanks and instant wishlists floods the comments, with some framing it as a boycott victory.

June 12, 2026

The new trailer confirms the shift; fans praise the multi-platform availability (Steam, PS, Xbox, Switch) as proof the controversy is settled for this title.

June 17, 2026

At Summer Game Fest, Epic reveals Fumito Ueda's gen ATLAS as a PC Epic Games Store exclusive, immediately reigniting the same fracture around a new title.

Late June 2026

On gen ATLAS, comments split between a flat refusal to create an Epic account and fans willing to make an exception for the creator of Shadow of the Colossus.

Lords of the Fallen II

~15% of the discussion on this game

First announced as an Epic Games Store exclusive, Lords of the Fallen II saw PC interest stall until a Day One Steam release was confirmed in June 2026, hailed by the community as a welcome reversal.

Against the boycott (buys despite exclusivity) 40 %

Others argue the storefront question becomes secondary once the game is available across multiple platforms (PS, Xbox, Switch), making a boycott less relevant.
« LoF2 looks like good old Diablo, but finally in 3D, and available on every platform, including PC/PS/Xbox/Switch. Sounds great to me. »
— @hayate88888 · ♥ 55 · translated · see original ↗
A subset of commenters say they always judged the game on its announced quality rather than its storefront, never framing it as a boycott issue.

For the boycott (refuses Epic purchase) 60 %

Some players see the switch back to Steam as proof that boycott pressure worked, praising the devs for finally 'listening' to the community.
« You guys are the best for dropping the Epic exclusivity and launching day one on Steam. I've never seen another company do that. »
— @ferox2538 · ♥ 42 · translated · see original ↗
Others note they simply hadn't wishlisted the game until the Steam announcement, showing exclusivity genuinely dampened interest.
« Fastest Steam wishlist I've ever done! »
— @PsychoRavager · ♥ 436 · translated · see original ↗

gen ATLAS

~14% of the discussion on this game

Revealed at Summer Game Fest 2026 as a PC Epic Games Store exclusive, Fumito Ueda's gen ATLAS pits fans who flatly refuse Epic against those willing to make an exception for the creator of Shadow of the Colossus.

Against the boycott (buys despite exclusivity) 45 %

Part of the community downplays it, arguing that staying Epic-exclusive is still a win for PC compared to a pure console exclusive.
« Screw Sony, this is a win for PC and gamers overall. »
— @RequiredMailbox-t4u · ♥ 1 · translated · see original ↗
Others admit making an exception and opening an Epic account for the first time, purely out of loyalty to the game's creator.
« This guy genuinely made me love video games. And this will be the first time I spend money on Epic Games, even pre-ordering it. »
— @fabricio10vc · ♥ 7 · translated · see original ↗

For the boycott (refuses Epic purchase) 55 %

Several fans say they're simply passing on gen ATLAS as long as it stays Epic-exclusive, refusing to open an account on that launcher.
« Unfortunately I don't like the practice of PC exclusivity, so I won't play it since I don't have a console. Good luck, I hope everything goes well for the game and the studio. »
— @JordanJSTS · ♥ 4 · translated · see original ↗
Others say they lose all interest in the game because of the exclusivity, even while acknowledging Epic made the project financially possible.
« It looks really cool, but it totally kills my hype knowing it'll be dead on arrival on PC. I get Epic's role in making the game possible, but I personally lose 100% of my interest if it's exclusive to that garbage store. Anyway, hope it does well on consoles. »
— @JoaopedroSassi · ♥ 1 · translated · see original ↗
Where the debate standsThe Epic Games Store exclusivity debate stays alive but plays out differently per game: on Lords of the Fallen II it led to a widely celebrated Steam addition, while on gen ATLAS it remains unresolved, with Fumito Ueda's reputation pushing some fans to make an exception. The friction is currently sharper around gen ATLAS, where no Steam release has been confirmed.

Frequently asked questions

Why did Lords of the Fallen II end up releasing on Steam?
After an initial Epic Games Store exclusivity announcement, CI Games confirmed a Day One Steam release in June 2026, which commenters largely read as a direct win for community pressure.
Will gen ATLAS be available on Steam?
Based on Summer Game Fest 2026 comments, gen ATLAS remains announced as a PC Epic Games Store exclusive with no confirmed Steam release, something several players explicitly criticize.
Which games are involved in the Epic Games Store boycott debate?
The debate spans at least two tracked titles: Lords of the Fallen II, which eventually added Steam, and gen ATLAS, which remains Epic-exclusive despite PC criticism.
Does boycotting the Epic Games Store actually work?
Results are mixed: on Lords of the Fallen II, pressure seems to have contributed to the Steam addition, but on gen ATLAS, some fans are buying on Epic anyway out of loyalty to the creator.
Analysis built from 360 public YouTube comments on the tracked videos — updated on 14/07/2026. Our methodology