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Blizzard’s Battle.net Architect Defects to Epic Games Store to “Elevate Players”
Epic Games Store Hires New Boss to Fix Its Launcher: What You Need to Know
What’s Happening?
Imagine you have a favorite toy store, but the checkout line is always super long, the shelves are messy, and the app on your phone crashes all the time. You’d probably go shop somewhere else, right?
Well, Epic Games Store (the online shop where you buy and play PC games like Fortnite) has been having exactly this problem. Lots of players find its launcher—the app you use to download and play games—slow, confusing, and frustrating.
To fix this, Epic just hired a new leader: Martin Keely. His job? Make the Epic Games Store app actually nice to use.
Who Is Martin Keely?
Think of Martin Keely like a master organizer who just got promoted to run a messy bedroom.
His Resume in Simple Terms:
- Last Job: Senior Vice President at Activision Blizzard, where he ran Battle.net (the launcher for games like World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Call of Duty).
- Track Record: Battle.net is widely considered the only other launcher besides Steam that doesn’t make people angry. It’s clean, simple, and just works.
- Experience: 7 years making a launcher handle millions of players without melting down.
- New Title: VP and General Manager of Epic Games Store and Epic Online Services.
IMPORTANT POINT
Keely isn’t just "some new guy." He built the launcher that many PC gamers actually like using. That’s a huge deal.
Why Does This Matter?
Epic has tried two big tricks to get you to use their store:
- Free games every week (pretty awesome, right?)
- Better money split for game makers (developers keep 88% instead of 70% on Steam)
But here’s the problem: Neither worked well enough. Players still prefer Steam because Steam’s app just works better.
Now Epic is trying Trick #3: Make the app not suck.
What Was Wrong With Epic’s Launcher?
If you’ve used it, you probably know. If not, here’s the "ELI5" version:
| Problem | What It Feels Like |
|---|---|
| Slow & Clunky | Like waiting for a snail to deliver your pizza |
| Confusing Layout | Like a library where books are shelved by color, not topic |
| Bugs & Crashes | Like a bike with a wobbly wheel—works sometimes, throws you off others |
| Missing Features | No user reviews, no easy mod support, weak social tools |
IMPORTANT POINT
Battle.net (Keely’s old launcher) handles WAY fewer games than Epic. Epic has thousands; Battle.net has maybe 20. So Keely’s new job is much harder—like organizing a massive warehouse vs. a small closet.
What’s Next for Epic Games Store?
Based on Keely’s own words and Epic CEO Tim Sweeney’s welcome message, here’s the roadmap:
1. Fix the Basics First
- Speed up the app
- Clean up the menus
- Stop the crashes
2. Add Features Players Actually Want
- User reviews (like Steam has)
- Better friend/social tools
- Easier mod installation
- Wishlists that work well
3. Think Bigger: "Cross-Platform Everything"
Tim Sweeney mentioned "Unreal Engine 6" and "Team Open"—fancy words for:
"Let players buy a game once, play it anywhere (PC, phone, console), and keep their friends, saves, and mods no matter where they log in."
4. Help Game Makers, Too
- Better tools for developers to publish and update games
- Fairer discovery (so good indie games don’t get buried)
Summary
| Key Takeaway | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| New leader: Martin Keely | He built Battle.net—the only non-Steam launcher people like |
| Epic’s past tricks failed | Free games & better dev splits weren’t enough |
| Focus now: User Experience | Making the app fast, clean, and useful |
| Big vision: Cross-platform play | Buy once, play anywhere, keep your stuff |
| Too early to celebrate | Battle.net was simpler; Epic’s challenge is massive |
Bottom line: This is a smart, promising hire. But fixing a giant, messy launcher takes time. Don’t expect miracles overnight—but do keep an eye on updates over the next 6–12 months.
FAQ
Will my current Epic games break or disappear?
Nope. This is a management change, not a platform reset. Your library, saves, and account stay exactly as they are.
Is Martin Keely going to make Epic like Battle.net?
Not exactly. Battle.net only runs Blizzard/Activision games. Epic sells games from thousands of developers. Keely will use what he learned, but the solutions will be different.
When will I see changes in the app?
Probably not immediately. Big software changes take months. Look for gradual improvements—faster loading here, a cleaner menu there—over the next year.
Does this mean Epic will beat Steam?
Unlikely soon. Steam has a 20-year head start and massive network effects. But a usable Epic launcher means real competition—which is good for you (better features, prices, service).
Should I switch to Epic now?
Only if you want the free games or specific exclusives. If Steam works great for you, stay there. But watch Epic—if Keely delivers, it could become a genuine alternative, not just "that launcher I tolerate for free games."
Epic Games Store just got a new sheriff in town. Whether he can clean up the saloon remains to be seen—but for the first time in years, there’s a reason to be hopeful.
