Epic Games Store Finally Adds Game Preloading, Seven Years After Launch
Published on 03:12 AM, Sunday, October 5, 2025 by miladmim
After years of fan requests, Epic Games Store has finally added one of the most frequently demanded features — game preloading. This long-awaited addition will let users download select titles ahead of their official release dates, making it possible for players to jump into new games immediately once they go live.
The ability to preload games is nothing new for the gaming industry. Platforms like Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox have supported preloading for years, helping players avoid massive launch-day downloads. However, since its debut in 2018, the Epic Games Store has been notably missing this feature, which became one of the most common complaints among its users.
According to Epic’s latest community post, developers can now enable preloading for games available for pre-purchase on Windows. This means that players will be able to download games up to five days before launch, depending on the developer’s settings. The feature is simple to use — supported titles will display a preload badge or icon, and players can begin the download directly from the game’s store page with just one click.
Unfortunately, the new functionality is currently limited to the Windows version of the Epic Games Store. Users on macOS will still have to wait, as Epic hasn’t announced any plans for expanding preload support to other operating systems yet.
Despite the limitation, this update represents a big quality-of-life improvement for Epic’s platform. Data from 2024 indicates that the Epic Games Store is approaching 300 million registered users, showing steady growth even as it continues to play catch-up with Steam in terms of features and usability. Over the years, Epic has faced criticism for lacking fundamental tools such as preloading, achievements, and user reviews — but the latest update shows that the company is finally addressing long-standing community feedback.
The preload feature will require users to pre-order a game, and they must also ensure that their Epic Games Launcher is updated to the latest version. For now, developers will have control over whether to enable preloading for their titles, meaning not every upcoming release will necessarily support it.
One of the first major titles expected to take advantage of Epic’s new system is EA’s upcoming shooter Battlefield 6, which begins preloading on major platforms on October 3, 2025. While neither EA nor Epic has confirmed preload support for the Epic Games Store version specifically, it’s highly likely that the feature will be available given its alignment with other storefronts.
The introduction of preloading comes amid growing speculation about what Epic Games plans next for its storefront. Many fans are now turning their attention toward the potential addition of a new review system — one of the most requested features yet to be implemented. Currently, the store relies on a simple 5-star rating system, but players have been calling for something closer to Steam’s detailed user reviews and feedback tools.
Epic’s latest move signals that it’s serious about refining its platform experience and competing more directly with Steam, not just through exclusive game deals but also by improving user convenience. If the company continues on this trajectory — adding long-missing features and enhancing community tools — the Epic Games Store could become a far stronger contender in the digital distribution space in the years ahead.
