It is assumed that Epic Games have some very deep pockets thanks to the rip-roaring success of Fortnite Battle Royale, but even their cavernous money-pits must be stretched by their first Epic Mega Sale. Until June 13th every game priced over $14.99/ €14.99/ £13.99 has had ~$10 taken off their asking price, resulting in reductions ranging from healthy to bordering on the ludicrous.
Take for example Hades. Supergiant's latest title, an ARPG with Roguelite elements, is currently in a form of Early Access and normally would be available for £15.49. Now however it can be purchased for just £5.49, an absolute snip if you're a fan of Supergiant Game's prior releases (Bastion, Transistor and Pyre) or the ARPG genre and want to get in at ground floor prior even to the full retail launch.
Some games are reduced even further. Ashen, for instance, is down to £13.99 from a regular price of £31.99. Similarly Metro Exodus is available for £27.49 from £47.99, despite its relatively recent PC release.
This promotion also extends to other games on sold as a pre-order such as Control, Remedy Entertainment's upcoming 3rd Person Action-Adventure title. Remedy were the studio behind the first to installments of Max Payne, and another notable factoid is that Control is due to incorporate NVIDIA RTX technology.
Further underscoring the generosity of this sale is Epic's policy towards customers who bought or pre-ordered games just before this unexpected sale started. From their FAQ:
I pre-purchased a game before the start of the Epic Mega Sale and that game hasn’t launched yet. Should I cancel my pre-purchase and then buy it again to take advantage of the $10 discount?
No, you don’t have to! Every player who pre-purchased an unreleased game in the Epic Games store prior to May 16th, 2019 for $14.99 and above will receive a $10 refund! You will receive your $10 refund automatically to the payment method you used in the next 7-12 days.
What if I bought a game just before the Epic Mega Sale?
For all game purchases between May 2nd, 2019 and May 15th, 2019 we will refund you the difference in price between what you paid and what you would have paid during the Epic Mega Sale (inclusive of the $10 off from Epic). You will receive your refund automatically to the payment method you used in the next 7-12 days.
No, you don’t have to! Every player who pre-purchased an unreleased game in the Epic Games store prior to May 16th, 2019 for $14.99 and above will receive a $10 refund! You will receive your $10 refund automatically to the payment method you used in the next 7-12 days.
What if I bought a game just before the Epic Mega Sale?
For all game purchases between May 2nd, 2019 and May 15th, 2019 we will refund you the difference in price between what you paid and what you would have paid during the Epic Mega Sale (inclusive of the $10 off from Epic). You will receive your refund automatically to the payment method you used in the next 7-12 days.
Criticise Epic all you want but that's a very consumer-friendly gesture.
Sadly not everyone will have spare funds this month, so it's great to see Epic's fortnightly free game promotion continue. World of Goo exited last night to be succeeded by Stories Untold, a game developed by No Code and published by Devolver Digital. Stories Untold is a little difficult to describe, but here's the 'back of the box' blurb:
Stories Untold is a narrative-driven experimental adventure game, that bends the genre into something completely unique. Combining a mix of classic text-adventure, point-and-click and more, 4 short stories are packaged together into a single mysterious anthology that has been described as “a fantastic, fascinating example of interactive visual storytelling” and earning widespread critical acclaim since release.
The game pulls together 80s retro nostalgia, innovative and experimental genre-defying gameplay, and tense, psychological horror to create “one of the most fascinating and unique tales you can play this year.”
• Four unique stories, with their own settings, gameplay and mechanics.
• Play mind-bending text adventures, process radio transmissions and conduct experiments on bizarre artifacts
• Gorgeous retro-aesthetic brings back vivid memories, or a glimpse into what was.
• Sublime synth-wave horror soundtrack, inspired by 80s horror soundtracks.
• Achievements to unlock, and narrative secrets to discover
• Genre-hopping: from psychological horror, to tense mystery and terrifying sci-fi; Stories Untold is truly “4 stories, 1 nightmare”
The game pulls together 80s retro nostalgia, innovative and experimental genre-defying gameplay, and tense, psychological horror to create “one of the most fascinating and unique tales you can play this year.”
• Four unique stories, with their own settings, gameplay and mechanics.
• Play mind-bending text adventures, process radio transmissions and conduct experiments on bizarre artifacts
• Gorgeous retro-aesthetic brings back vivid memories, or a glimpse into what was.
• Sublime synth-wave horror soundtrack, inspired by 80s horror soundtracks.
• Achievements to unlock, and narrative secrets to discover
• Genre-hopping: from psychological horror, to tense mystery and terrifying sci-fi; Stories Untold is truly “4 stories, 1 nightmare”
At the low, low price of free Stories Untold has to be worth a try, particularly if your gaming tastes tend towards the eclectic.
