Why CI Games Ended Its Epic Publishing Deal for Lords of the Fallen II

CI Games has ended its publishing agreement with Epic Games for Lords of the Fallen II, a move that removes the planned Epic Games Store exclusivity for the PC version and opens the door to a broader launch across multiple storefronts in 2026. The decision does not end the companies’ wider partnership, but it significantly changes how the sequel may reach PC players.

The Publishing Deal That Was Originally Planned

In June 2024, CI Games signed a publishing agreement with Epic Games that granted Epic exclusive global distribution rights for the PC version of Lords of the Fallen II throughout the game’s lifecycle. In practical terms, that arrangement would almost certainly have made the sequel an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC.

Such agreements are common in the PC games market: Epic often funds or supports development in exchange for exclusivity on its storefront.

What Changed: The 2026 Separation Agreement

On April 14, 2026, CI Games and Epic Games signed a separation agreement that dissolved the earlier publishing deal and released CI Games from those exclusivity obligations. The change was disclosed in company filings and later reported publicly.

The result is straightforward: Lords of the Fallen II is no longer contractually tied to launching on the Epic Games Store alone. Instead, CI Games is free to distribute the game through other PC storefronts.

That makes a day‑one Steam release possible, though the studio has not yet confirmed its final PC storefront lineup or exact release details for the 2026 launch window.

Does This Mean CI Games and Epic Have Split?

No. The agreement only ended Epic’s publishing role for the sequel.

Reports on the filing indicate that other forms of cooperation between the companies continue, including the use of Unreal Engine and other Epic services. In other words, the change affects distribution—not the underlying technology relationship between the two firms.

This type of arrangement is common in the industry: studios often use Epic’s development tools while publishing or selling games across multiple platforms and stores.

Why CI Games Might Have Walked Away

CI Games has not publicly explained the commercial reasons for terminating the publishing agreement, so any specific motive remains speculative.

However, the strategic implications are clear. By removing Epic exclusivity, the company can release Lords of the Fallen II across a larger PC ecosystem, potentially reaching more players at launch.

For many publishers, the biggest consideration is Steam’s dominant role in PC distribution. Releasing a major title without Steam can limit visibility, discovery, and community features that many PC players expect.

While Epic often offsets this through financial incentives or support, CI Games appears to have decided that maximum storefront reach may be more valuable for this particular sequel.

What the First Game’s Sales Reveal

The commercial performance of the 2023 reboot of Lords of the Fallen helps explain the stakes.

CI Games reported that the game eventually surpassed 2.5 million copies sold worldwide and officially broke even by the end of February 2026, after covering a development and marketing budget of about 298 million Polish złoty (around $80 million).

Although that outcome ultimately made the project profitable, it took more than two years after launch to reach that point.

For a sequel planned as a major 2026 release, launching on as many storefronts as possible could help generate stronger early momentum and faster revenue recovery.

What This Means for the 2026 Launch

The immediate consequences of the deal’s cancellation are:

• Lords of the Fallen II is no longer an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC.
• The game can now release on multiple storefronts, including Steam.
• The broader partnership between CI Games and Epic—including Unreal Engine usage—remains intact.

For PC players, the biggest practical outcome is simple: the sequel is now far more likely to be available wherever they prefer to buy games.

The Bigger Industry Signal

The decision also reflects an ongoing debate in the PC gaming industry about storefront exclusivity.

Epic Games has aggressively pursued exclusives to grow its store, while Steam continues to dominate discovery, community features, and overall market share. When publishers opt out of exclusivity deals before release, it often signals concern about limiting a game’s reach.

CI Games’ move does not necessarily mark a broader industry shift—but it highlights the trade‑off developers face between financial incentives for exclusivity and the larger audience available across multiple storefronts.

For Lords of the Fallen II, the studio appears to have chosen reach over restriction.