Well, folks, it finally happened. After eight years at the helm, Steve Allison, the face of the Epic Games Store, has decided to hang up his virtual boots and take on a new adventure at Saber Interactive. Yes, you heard that right! The man who launched Epic’s storefront back in 2018 is moving on, and while we’re excited for what’s next, we can’t help but feel a little nostalgic.
Allison ’ s role building the Epic Games Store and leading Epic ’ s third-party publishing will directly inform his new responsibilities at Saber: he will lead business development and strategy for Saber’ s worldwide publisher-and-developer portfolio and helm the company’ s global games lineup. The press release frames his experience as helping Saber unlock its future and steer its high-profile titles, and he has already teased several unannounced projects Saber will discuss soon.
Let’s rewind the clock to 2018. The gaming world was buzzing, and Epic decided to throw its hat into the ring with a storefront that was supposed to rival the likes of Steam. Enter Steve Allison, who was not just handed a shiny new job title but also the monumental task of convincing gamers that they needed yet another launcher cluttering their desktop. Spoiler alert: he did a pretty decent job.
Under Allison’s leadership, the Epic Games Store has seen some serious growth. We’re talking about exclusive titles, free games every week (yes, please!), and a whole lot of marketing shenanigans that made us raise our eyebrows yet still click ‘download.’ Who can forget the chaotic excitement of free game giveaways that turned us all into digital hoarders? Thanks to Allison, we now have a library full of games we might never play. It’s like collecting Pokémon cards but for gamers.
Now, you might be wondering why he decided to leave after all this success. Maybe he got tired of being the face of the store that was constantly under fire from passionate gamers who just can’t let go of their beloved Steam. Or perhaps he finally realized that his dog needed more walks than he was able to provide while managing a storefront that seems to have a mind of its own.
Whatever the reason, he’s off to Saber Interactive, a company known for its work on games like World War Z and the recently revived TimeSplitters. If you ask me, it sounds like a pretty sweet gig, and we can only imagine the fun he’ll have there—hopefully without the constant comparisons to his former workplace.
As for Epic Games, they’ll need to find someone to fill Allison’s shoes, which may or may not involve a lengthy search for a candidate who can handle the pressure of keeping the store relevant amid fierce competition. And let’s be honest, it’s not going to be easy.
So, here’s to Steve Allison, the man who took Epic Games Store from zero to hero. May your new role bring you all the joy and fewer angry tweets than your last one. Cheers to new beginnings, and may your next adventure be as epic as the games you helped launch!
Inspired by: “Epic Games Store boss quits after 8 years to take up new role at Saber Interactive | Steve Allison…” (r/technology)