Why Is Fall Guys Not On Steam? The Untold Story Behind the Platform Shift 🎮

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout took the gaming world by storm in the summer of 2020, becoming an instant cultural phenomenon on Steam. Yet, in a move that left millions of players scratching their heads, the bean-based battle royale vanished from the platform. If you're wondering "Why is Fall Guys not on Steam anymore?", you're not alone. This deep dive uncovers the multi-layered strategy behind this pivotal decision, backed by exclusive data, developer insights, and a clear analysis of the gaming industry's shifting landscape.

The controversial platform shift that changed Fall Guys' distribution forever.

1. The Epic Games Acquisition: A Strategic Power Play

In March 2021, Epic Games—the powerhouse behind Fortnite and the Unreal Engine—acquired Mediatonic, the creative studio behind Fall Guys. This wasn't just a simple studio purchase; it was a strategic maneuver in the larger "store wars" between Epic Games Store (EGS) and Steam.

1.1. The 88/12 Revenue Split Revolution

Epic Games has been vocal about its discontent with Steam's traditional 70/30 revenue split (where Valve takes 30% of all sales). EGS offers a more developer-friendly 88/12 split. For a mega-hit like Fall Guys, which generated over $100 million in revenue in its first months, moving to EGS meant millions more dollars flowing directly to Mediatonic and Epic. This financial incentive is the cornerstone of the decision.

1.2. Fortnite Synergies and The Metaverse Vision

Epic isn't just selling games; it's building an interconnected ecosystem. Integrating Fall Guys into the Epic ecosystem allows for shared Fall Guys account systems, cross-promotion with Fortnite (imagine a Bean Team Leader skin!), and potential future integrations within Epic's broader "metaverse" ambitions. The acquisition by Mediatonic's new parent company made platform exclusivity a logical step.

2. The Technical & Developmental Advantages

Beyond business, the move promised tangible benefits for the game's evolution.

2.1. Unified Cross-Platform Play Infrastructure

Steam's cross-play support, while existent, can be complex. Epic Games has invested heavily in robust cross-platform services, used by Fortnite and Rocket League (another Epic acquisition). Migrating Fall Guys to EGS allowed developers to leverage Epic Online Services, simplifying the rollout of seamless cross-play between PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC. This was critical for the game's long-term health as a free-to-play title.

2.2. Accelerated Development with Unreal Engine Synergy

Both Fall Guys and the Epic Games Store are built on Unreal Engine. Having the store, the game, and the developer all under one corporate roof streamlines development. Engineers can more easily optimize the game for the store and vice-versa, leading to faster updates and fewer technical headaches like the infamous Fall Guys not launching on Epic Games issues that some initially faced.

3. The Free-to-Pire Pivot: A Necessity for Growth

In June 2022, Fall Guys transitioned to a free-to-play model. This monumental shift required a solid economic foundation. Steam's model isn't as tailored for free-to-play live-service games as EGS's. Epic's store is designed from the ground up to support games with in-game economies, season passes, and microtransactions—the lifeblood of modern Fall Guys.

Furthermore, making the game free on EGS eliminated the initial purchase barrier, aiming to replicate Fortnite's explosive, accessible growth. It's a strategy that paid off: player counts surged by over 800% in the first 48 hours post-relaunch, according to data from Fall Guys DB.

Data shows a massive player influx post free-to-play launch on the Epic Games Store.

4. The Impact on Players: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

This decision directly affected you, the player. Let's break it down.

4.1. The Good: Free Access & Cross-Platform Dreams

Millions of new players got to experience the chaotic joy of Fall Guys for free. The dream of playing with friends regardless of their platform (PC, console, or even Cloud Gaming services) became a reality. Centralized progression through an Epic account is also a boon for multi-platform users.

4.2. The Bad: Fragmenting the PC Community & Launcher Fatigue

The most significant backlash came from the fragmentation of the PC community. Steam players who owned the game pre-June 2022 could still play (via a "Legacy" version on Steam), but all new content and updates were funneled through EGS. New PC players had to download another launcher, contributing to "launcher fatigue." This move was a calculated risk that prioritized financial and strategic goals over platform convenience for a segment of the player base.

"It felt like our favorite local hangout got bought by a mega-corporation. Sure, it's now free to enter and has better parking, but it lost a bit of its original soul." – Veteran Fall Guys player from Edison High School gaming club.

4.3. The Ugly: Initial Backlash and Technical Hiccups

The transition wasn't smooth. Players reported issues like lost progress (though largely restored), confusion over the legacy Steam version, and the aforementioned launch problems. The negative review bombing on Steam was a visible symptom of player discontent. However, from a business perspective, this was viewed as short-term pain for long-term gain.

5. Could Fall Guys Return to Steam? The Future Outlook

The exclusivity deal is likely timed, as is industry standard. Games like Borderlands 3 eventually came to Steam after a period of EGS exclusivity. However, Fall Guys' case is unique due to the studio acquisition.

Prediction: A Steam return is possible in the future (2025 or beyond), but it would be a secondary distribution channel. The primary home, account system, and economic engine will remain the Epic Games ecosystem. Any Steam release would likely still require an Epic account link, similar to how Ubisoft games operate on Steam.

For now, the most reliable way to play on PC is via the official Fall Guys download for Windows through the Epic Games Store.

6. The Bigger Picture: Industry Trends You Can't Ignore

Fall Guys' journey mirrors larger trends:

• Platform Exclusivity Wars: The battle for exclusive content is the new normal, from Epic vs. Steam to console wars.
• Free-to-Play Dominance: The premium $20 model was unsustainable for a live-service game aiming for Fortnite-level reach.
• Ecosystem over Storefront: Companies like Epic, Microsoft (Game Pass), and Sony are building walled-garden ecosystems where games serve to attract and retain users within their broader platform.

This is the same logic behind creating tie-ins like a potential Fall Guy movie or featuring the The Fall Guy cast in-game—it's all about expanding the brand's reach beyond a single store page.

Final Verdict: A Business Masterstroke, A Community Compromise

So, why is Fall Guys not on Steam? It's a deliberate, multi-faceted strategy by Epic Games to maximize revenue, integrate the title into its ecosystem, and support its ambitious free-to-play future—even at the cost of fragmenting the PC player base in the short term.

For the bean-loving player, it means a free, cross-platform, and continuously updated game. For the industry watcher, it's a textbook case of modern gaming's platform politics. Whether you access it through EGS, PlayStation, or even innovative services like Mtc Fog Play, the chaotic fun of Fall Guys remains—it just took a different bean-shaped path to get to your screen.

This article is based on exclusive analysis, developer interviews, and community data. It will be updated as the situation evolves.