The Epic Games Store has added the option to preload games, enabling users to download select titles before they are released. Preloading has been a standard practice in the gaming industry for a long time, especially as digital game releases began to take over the market. However, the Epic Games Store has been missing the feature until now.
Data from 2024 shows the Epic Games Store is nearing 300 million users. Despite the platform's growth, many have criticized it for lacking standard features like preloading and other quality-of-life options that fans have long requested. Now, seven years after its launch, the Epic Games Store seems to be starting to add some of those features.
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Epic Games Store Adds Preloading for Select Games
In a brief community post, the Epic Games Store announced that developers can now enable preloading for games with a pre-purchase period on Windows. This allows players to download a game up to five days before its official launch. According to the storefront, games with preload support will feature a clear badge or icon, and the process will be as simple as pressing a dedicated button on the game's store page. Unfortunately, the option seems to be Windows-exclusive for now and isn't available on the macOS version of the Epic Games Store, meaning Apple users will still miss out on the preload feature.
It's worth noting that Steam, the Epic Games Store's main competitor, has offered this feature almost since its launch, making it a staple for day-one digital releases. Still, Epic Games Store users seem happy to finally jump into new releases on day one without falling behind other players due to download times. Fans should note that downloading a game in advance requires preordering the title. Users will also need to update the launcher to the latest version to take advantage of preloading.
One of the first games likely to benefit from the Epic Games Store's new feature is EA's anticipated first-person shooter. Battlefield 6 will support preloading on major platforms starting October 3. Although the developer or storefront hasn't officially confirmed it, it's likely that the option will also be available on the Epic Games Store.
Now, attention is shifting to whether the company will introduce a new review system to rival Steam's. Despite ongoing improvements to the Epic Games Store, one of the most requested features remains a more robust and detailed review system beyond the current 5-star rating.
