iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Epic First Run offers eligible games and apps 100% of their net revenue for the first six months of exclusivity on the Epic Games Store. It is an opt-in revenue-share deal, not a guarantee of sales—and “100%” refers to net revenue under Epic’s terms, not every dollar customers spend before adjustments.
What Epic First Run offers
Epic First Run is an opt-in program for developers and publishers with registered Epic Games developer accounts. For an eligible product, Epic says it returns 100% of net revenue from user spending during the first six months of exclusivity on the Epic Games Store. The current eligibility and program terms are in Epic’s First Run FAQ.
The six-month period requires the product to be exclusive to PC stores. In practical terms, a developer gives up launching that product on other PC storefronts during the term in exchange for the higher share on Epic. The program does not promise a minimum payment or a particular number of sales.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Who and what can qualify
Participation is voluntary, but the product must meet Epic’s eligibility rules:
#1 Best Overall
- Fearless ROG Design – The G700’s dual-glass chassis showcases iconic ROG design with the ROG Slash and Aura Sync RGB lighting. Its 58L capacity supports triple-slot GPUs.
- Unstoppable Power – Equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD PCIe 4.0 storage for seamless gaming and multitasking.
- Optimized Thermals – Stay cool with a quad-fan system, while dust filters and efficient airflow ensure long-term reliability.
- Advanced Connectivity – Game without lag with 2.5Gbps Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and versatile ports. Dolby Atmos audio and AI noise cancellation enhance sound and communication.
- Ready for Upgrades – Designed with tool-less access, easily swap out components, ensuring future-proof performance for years to come.
- It must be a new release that has not previously launched on another third-party PC store.
- It must not have appeared in a subscription service available on another third-party PC store.
- It cannot already be covered by a pre-existing Epic exclusivity deal.
- It must remain exclusive to PC stores for its first six months on Epic.
Announcing a planned release on other stores does not by itself rule a product out: Epic says it may still qualify if it launches first on Epic and remains exclusive to PC stores during the six-month term. Developers can register, configure, test and distribute products using self-service tools in the Epic Developer Portal.
What “100% of revenue” means
The program’s 100% share applies to net revenue from user spending, as Epic describes it. It should not be read as 100% of gross customer spending with no deductions or adjustments. Epic’s program page does not establish an individual product’s sales or earnings in advance.
Rank #2
- System: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 3.6GHz 6 Cores | AMD B550 Chipset | 8GB DDR4 | 500GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | Windows 11 Home
- Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT 4GB Graphics | 1x HDMI | 1x DisplayPort
- Connectivity: 4 x USB-A 3.2 | 4 x USB-A 2.0 | 1 x LAN | WiFi 5 | Bluetooth 5.0 | 7.1 Channel Audio
- Tempered Side Case Panel | Custom RGB Lighting | Keyboard and Mouse
- 1 Year Parts & Labor Warranty, Free Lifetime Tech Support
Epic also lists home-page and collection-page placements, editorial opportunities, self-service discounts, seasonal sales, a weekly discount program, Epic Rewards for players, and waived Unreal Engine royalties on payments processed by Epic. These are program features and opportunities, not a guarantee that a particular game will receive a specific placement or achieve a commercial result.
What happens after the six-month exclusive term
When First Run ends, Epic removes the exclusive tag and the product returns to Epic’s standard revenue-share terms. Under the current standard terms, Epic gives the developer or publisher 100% of net revenue up to $1 million per product per calendar year, then applies an 88%/12% split above that threshold. The threshold is per product, resets on January 1 and applies regardless of when the First Run term ends. See Epic’s revenue-share information.
Rank #3
- 8-Core 16-Thread Processing Power – Powered by the Ryzen 7 4700LE processor with Zen 2 architecture, delivering 8 cores and 16 threads with a boost clock up to 4.2GHz. Effortlessly handle multitasking, streaming, content creation, and demanding applications simultaneously without slowdowns.
- GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Graphics – Equipped with 8GB GDDR6 dedicated VRAM and real-time ray tracing support. Experience smooth 1080p gaming at 55-60 FPS in AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, 70+ FPS in Fortnite, and 90-100 FPS in Apex Legends with DLSS enabled. The 8GB buffer handles modern game textures comfortably – a step above 6GB variants
- High-Speed Memory & Storage – Paired with 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz dual-channel RAM (16GB), the PC ensures responsive multitasking—whether streaming while gaming or editing videos. It also includes a 512 GB NVMe M.2 SSD for lightning-fast boot times, quick game loads, and ample storage for your game library, creative projects, and files.
- Next-Gen WiFi 6 Connectivity – Stay connected with the latest WiFi 6 technology for faster speeds, lower latency, and improved network efficiency. Whether you're gaming online, streaming 4K content, or joining video conferences, enjoy stable, high-speed wireless connectivity.
- Ready-to-Use Value Desktop – Pre-built and ready to go right out of the box. Perfect for gamers, students, content creators, and home office users seeking reliable performance without the hassle of building a PC themselves. The mature AM4 platform with DDR4 memory offers excellent value and proven stability.
Epic announced that its revised standard share took effect retroactively from June 1, 2025, for payments it processes; the announcement also retained First Run as the opt-in route for launches seeking six months of exclusivity. Read Epic’s announcement.
| Period or threshold | Developer/publisher share | Epic share |
|---|---|---|
| First six months for an eligible First Run product | 100% of net revenue under program terms | 0% of net revenue under program terms |
| Standard terms, up to $1 million net revenue per product per calendar year | 100% | 0% |
| Standard terms, above that threshold in the calendar year | 88% | 12% |
The First Run term and the standard calendar-year threshold are separate mechanics: completing an exclusive period does not reset the $1 million threshold. A developer modeling the deal should account for the date the term ends and the product’s net revenue already counted in that calendar year.
Rank #4
- POWERHOUSE 8-CORE GAMING PERFORMANCE — Driven by the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F with 8 cores and 16 threads, boosting up to 5.0 GHz for smooth, responsive gameplay and the ability to handle AAA titles, streaming, and background tasks all at once
- NEXT-GEN BLACKWELL ARCHITECTURE — The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is powered by NVIDIA's cutting-edge Blackwell GPU architecture, delivering a massive generational leap in rasterization and ray tracing performance so you can experience your games the way they were meant to be played.
- Simplistic Design: Enjoy the latest generation of Windows 11 Home for your everyday needs. *MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro for business use.
- Cool While Gaming: In conjunction with an ARGB fan Air Cooler, the Codex R2 features four system cooling fans; three in the front and one in the rear to pull in cool air and push heat out of the PC.
- Turn on the Bright Lights: With the built-in RGB lighting, take your gaming experience to the next level by pressing the MSI LED button to cycle through lighting options. Customize lighting even further with MSI Center software.
How to decide whether the exclusivity trade-off makes sense
Compare revenue share with expected reach
The larger share is valuable only in relation to the sales a product could generate. A developer should compare Epic’s offer with the audience access, storefront presence and release plans available through other PC stores. Epic cites a global user base and supported languages, but platform-wide figures cannot predict how a particular game will perform.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCheck the release calendar and existing commitments
Six months without availability on other PC stores may affect launch timing, audience expectations, community plans or agreements already made with partners. Prior releases on third-party PC stores, qualifying subscription-service appearances, or an existing Epic exclusivity deal can make a product ineligible.
Best Value
- POWERED BY RTX 5070 12GB + RYZEN 7 9700X - The GeForce RTX 5070 12GB GDDR7 graphics card pairs with an 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 9700X processor to drive smooth 1440p and 4K gameplay, giving this gaming PC the headroom for modern titles, streaming, and creative work.
- 32GB DDR5 6000MHz MEMORY & 1TB NVMe SSD - 32GB of high-speed DDR5 memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid state drive deliver quick load times, smooth multitasking, and generous storage, keeping this prebuilt gaming desktop responsive under heavy workloads.
- BUILT-IN 11.3-INCH Smart DISPLAY - An integrated smart screen shows real-time CPU and GPU temperatures, usage, and weather while you play, adding a distinctive and functional touch to your battlestation.
- 850W 80+ GOLD POWER SUPPLY, 360MM LIQUID COOLING & WiFi 7 - An 850W 80 Plus Gold certified power supply provides stable, efficient power with headroom for future upgrades, while a 360mm AIO liquid cooler, WiFi 7, and an ARGB mid-tower case keep the Ryzen 7 CPU cool and connected in a clean build.
- READY TO PLAY OUT OF THE BOX - Arrives fully assembled and tested with Windows 11 Home pre-installed, so your prebuilt gaming computer is ready to set up in minutes. Assembled in the USA, and backed by a one-year limited warranty and lifetime free technical support.
Model the post-term share
Do not treat the First Run share as permanent. Estimate the product’s net revenue across the calendar year, including the period after exclusivity, and account for the standard 88%/12% split above the annual per-product threshold.
Value promotion as an opportunity, not a forecast
Epic lists promotional and editorial options, but the available program terms do not promise specific placement or sales. A sound decision should work even without assuming that a particular feature will produce a particular level of visibility.
How the offer began
Epic introduced First Run in 2023 as an exclusivity-for-revenue-share program. That launch context was reported by TechCrunch; the current eligibility and revenue terms are set out on Epic’s own pages.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
