The Epic Games store data privacy issue is rumbling on: Steam maker Valve has suggested it's miffed Epic's launcher copies Steam user data - and it's declared it's going to investigate.
Phoenix Point
Key events
14th March 2019
Epic responds to accusations its launcher accesses Steam data without permission
"Since this issue came to the forefront we're going to fix it."
Epic has responded to growing concern its launcher accesses users' Steam data without permission.
The company responded to a post on the subreddit for Phoenix Point, itself the focus of a controversy after signing a deal to go exclusive with the Epic Games store for a year, in which a user revealed the Epic Games store client pokes around your computer when it shouldn't.
In the post, titled Epic Game Store, Spyware, Tracking, and You!, redditor notte_m_portent accused Epic of running processes and making attempts to access DLLs and root certificates without letting the user know. According to the post, the data obtained was found to be sent to Epic, and the Epic Games store app was found to store hardware information in the registry.
"It was not our intention to scam anyone."
The creator of the original X-COM, Julian Gollop has endured a backlash after signing a Epic Games store exclusivity deal for his next title.
Hotly-anticipated turn-based strategy game Phoenix Point, billed as a spiritual successor to the original X-COM, was crowdfunded to the tune of $765,948 by over 10,000 backers on FIG back in June 2017. At the time, a Steam key for Phoenix Point was promised to those who'd helped make the game a reality.
Fast forward to March 2019, and Phoenix Point is now exclusive to the Epic Games store for one year. While backers will get a Steam or GOG key after the first year in addition to their Epic key, they'll also get three DLC packs for free. Gollop is also offering a full refund to any backer who wants it.
Julian Gollop's X-COM spiritual successor Phoenix Point gets another delay
But only by three months.
Julian Gollop has announced that sci-fi strategy game and X-COM spiritual successor, Phoenix Point, will no longer release in June, as previously anticipated. The game is now scheduled to launch this September.
Julian Gollop's X-COM spiritual successor Phoenix Point is delayed
Now due next summer.
Julian Gollop has announced his decision to delay the release of sci-fi strategy game, and X-COM spiritual successor, Phoenix Point. It's now expected to arrive in June 2019.
Julian Gollop launches $500,000 crowdfunder for X-COM spiritual successor
UPDATE: And it's funded!
UPDATE 02/05/2017: Phoenix Point, the spiritual successor to the original X-COM, has now been successfully funded. It's taken just under seven days for the project to meet its initial target of $500,000, with a mix of crowdfunding from fans and investors.
"We would like to thank all our backers who have made this project possible," states the latest update. "Now we are going to make an awesome game for you."
As is usually the case with crowdfunding campaigns like this one, Snapshot Games has since revealed a couple of additional stretch goals. Should the project reach $650,000, the final game will include driveable vehicles and if it gets all the way to $850,000, players will be able to build floating bases on the geoscape. You can find more details on the project's FIG page.
VideoWatch: We ask the creator of X-COM about his next game, Phoenix Point
The master returns.
Julian Gollop, the man that made X-COM, is finally returning to the genre he helped define.
Phoenix Point is the new game from XCOM creator Julian Gollop
Turn-based tactical combat! World-based strategy! Fantasy XCOM?
Julian Gollop, the creator of the original XCOM, has announced a new game.