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Epic Steamed

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpotPosted Mar 17, 2008 5:26 pm PT

Celebrated developer releasing five installments in its Unreal franchise--including Unreal Tournament III--on Valve's download service.

After beginning as a distribution of games made by its owner, Valve Software, the Steam download service has blossomed into a full-fledged content delivery system for a variety of publishers. The past year has seen such high-profile companies as Sega, Atari, Capcom, Codemasters, 2K Games, id Software, Eidos Interactive, and Rockstar Games distribute games from past and present catalogs on the service, which claims over 15 million subscribers.

Today, another celebrated developer announced it would be hawking its wares via Steam. Starting today, five installments in Epic Games' popular Unreal series--Unreal Gold, Unreal 2: The Awakening, Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition, Unreal Tournament 2004: Editor's Choice Edition, and Unreal Tournament 3--will all be available on the service. The games can be bought separately for prices ranging from $8.95 to $44.95, or together via the single Unreal Deal Pack for $59.95.

From now until March 24, all Epic Games' offerings are temporarily 10 percent off on Steam. Unfortunately, the North Carolina-based studio's award-winning shooter Gears of War, which was released on PC last year, is not currently available on the download service.

81 Comments

  • imprezawrx500

    Posted Mar 20, 2008 2:58 am PT

    more games on steam = less reason to go to the shop, keep the games coming to steam

  • zymn1

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 11:42 pm PT

    yo.

    i'm thinking about getting UT. only thing i could afford...

    and, if anyone wants to know, my Steam ID: zymn65

  • Humikimi

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 11:22 am PT

    Sounds great. I'll never buy anything on Steam of I can help it, due to me wanting a physical product in front of me, but having so many options on Steam is absolutely awesome for most others.

  • Agujereado

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 2:17 am PT

    Yeah Banshee, there is a back-up option somewhere in Steam, I believe it lets you copy to CD/DVD/etc. Never actually used it myself though.

  • ghost867

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 7:21 pm PT

    I hope Steam starts to release individual sales numbers for each game, otherwise it doesn't help the PC look any better in the sales department. What ever reason they can possibly have doesn't justify the damage they're doing do the image of PC gaming by not releasing their sales numbers.

    And no crap Gears isn't on Steam. It's a Games for Windows title, it works with Games for Windows Live, and I'm pretty sure that Microsoft owns the Gears IP, just like they own the IP to Halo and PGR.

    Anyway, the whole thing is good for Epic, but I'd really like them to put out some sales numbers so I have a little hope that UE3 will be supported for the PC and PS3 versions. I'm a bit concerned.

  • cybergooch

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 2:25 pm PT

    Flackstone, Microsoft does not own the IP. It simply has an EXCLUSIVE on two titles, presumably GeoW and GeoW 2. Epic may then farm the title out to whomever they choose. You sir, are completely wrong. Duh.

  • Banshee

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 2:07 pm PT

    got a question because i've never really used steam to download anything but patches-

    are the downloadable games able to be burned to a cd or dvd?

    I'd hate to sit thru re-downloading after having to re-format

  • Lpedraja2002

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 1:12 pm PT

    This is good, although I still prefer to buy the retail box version of the game, mainly because I feel it's worth my money more, since I get a booklet (which I do not read), a pretty box (which I let it eating dust) and some more little promotions for other games. What would change my ming in all this is if the ISP's in Puerto Rico weren't so crappy and limited in DL and UL Speeds. Top speeds here are 5mb download (In some areas) and costs 80$ a month. :'(

  • BloodMist

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 12:31 pm PT

    It's pretty amazing how successful STEAM has become.I could've never imagined it.Oh BTW UT2004 rules.

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 11:53 am PT

    well this sounds like a win win for everyone. plus epic doesn't have to worry about steam piracy.

  • BringTheBlood

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 11:12 am PT

    I love how everyone is hooking up with Steam, screw buying crap, JUST DOWNLOAD IT! I give props to you Steam, way to stay true. keep it going.

  • Death_Masta187

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 10:49 am PT

    Epic sold out after UT2004... So I will never buy another one of their games.

  • mysterylobster

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 10:16 am PT

    It's unfortunate that they couldn't price these games to compete with the Unreal Anthology pack you can buy at retail for $19.99. Call me crazy, but shouldn't a download cost less than a physical copy? *edit* Actually, Amazon is selling this set for $14.99, and it includes Unreal, UT, Unreal 2 and UT2004. That's $30 less than what they're charging for all these games on Steam.

  • BoogieManZero

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 10:11 am PT

    Awesome news, still no games on steam that interest me(I'm a console jockey) but any alternative to pirating games is always good. I'd love to see simular services for the ds and psp.

  • RogueAngel12

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 9:55 am PT

    Owned the game's since release.. Great games... I'm one of these ppl that don't care what company bought,sold or changed what; long as they produce a good game.. UT2003 of 2003 was a great First-shooter produced by Epic & Legend..... Just made the way for the Great first-shooters today.... Just wanna say: THANK YOU ROGUE

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 9:54 am PT

    the legal way of downloading games for the past 10 years and going strong. Way to go steam. hopefully this won't stop devs from releasing games in boxes but this alternative will at least entice those pirates to get of their boats and join the good side

  • crazytom49

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 9:52 am PT

    @Dkarlowicz
    I don't think so really, I bought GMod from steam recently for $9.95, and the relative weakness off the dollar in comparison to the pound meant that it was dirt cheap for me in britain. We're used to most new next-gen releases costing £50, or $100, so at american prices its good value imo
    I just checked, and UT3 is $45 (£22.50) on there, which is far better than any shop prices here

  • Paz2

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 9:49 am PT

    Steam = death to my credit card :/ I just finished purchasing the Atari ones.. now this!!! when will it end?!?

  • Dkarlowicz

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 9:45 am PT

    Not a big fan of Steam or other network stores. Steam and other online networks charge way more for older games, than if you were to get some of the golden oldies in regular stores. And I thought that they would pass on the savings of not having to produce instructions,boxes,game discs to the gamer. That is not the case, if anything, I have seen them get greedy and ask for more money. Look how Nintendo charges almost $10 for their old games, games that they made millions on already. Future of gaming looks more and more to be an expensive hobby with online services like Steam. Say goodbye to bargain bins/deals at your local store, those won't be available online, thats for sure.

  • LancerVI

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 9:42 am PT

    Tmontana1004,

    For free you say? Get a life, a job and pay for something. Thievery is the way of the scumbag.

    Lancer VI

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