Epic Games acquisition

Lore & Background

Fall Guys, originally released in August 2020 by Mediatonic and Devolver Digital, quickly became a cultural phenomenon with its whimsical, obstacle-course battle royale gameplay. The game's success caught the attention of Epic Games, which acquired Mediatonic in 2021. Following the acquisition, Fall Guys transitioned to a free-to-play model in June 2022, expanding its player base significantly. The game also became available on the Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox consoles, with full cross-platform play and progression. Notably, Fall Guys was removed from sale on Steam on June 21, 2022, but existing owners could still download and play it. A mobile version was later released via the Epic Games Store, but only in select regions.

Reader's Guide

Mediatonic, a UK-based developer with a penchant for slapstick physics, was acquired by Epic Games in 2021. The announcement dropped on March 2, 2021, with Epic promising that Mediatonic would keep its studio identity but gain access to Epic's deep pockets and tech—think Unreal Engine upgrades and backend server muscle. The deal closed later that year. Then came the shake-up: in June 2022, Fall Guys vanished from Steam like a bean down a slime chute, going free-to-play and becoming an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC.

The same day, it launched on Nintendo Switch and Xbox consoles, unlocking full cross-platform play and progression. The reaction? A split verdict. Player counts skyrocketed—free games always do—but veterans grumbled about losing their Steam library integration and the arrival of a battle pass system that felt lifted straight from Fortnite.

Still, the community kept tumbling, with seasonal content and crossover events (hello, Among Us and Sonic) rolling out regularly. Mediatonic, true to Epic's word, kept its own culture—though now with a Fortnite-shaped shadow looming over the Blunderdome.

Did You Know?

• Fall Guys was originally published by Devolver Digital, the indie darling behind Hotline Miami, before the Epic Games acquisition.
• After the acquisition, Fall Guys introduced a battle pass system and cosmetic items inspired by Fortnite, including a Peely banana costume that became a fan favorite.