Phoenix Point is the latest upcoming game that's temporarily ditching all other platforms to release as a timed Epic Games Store exclusive, so if you were looking forward to playing it on Steam or GoG anytime soon, tough luck - there's a Phoenix Point Epic Games Store exclusivity deal.
This exciting XCOM-alike (from the original creator of X-Com, Julian Gollop) was originally launched as a Fig project, where it collected over $750,000, which amounted to 153% of its projected goal. There, developers advertised offering both GoG and Steam keys, depending on which you might prefer as an early backer. Now backers and pre-order customers will only get an Epic Games Store key instead when the game releases.
Seemingly expecting some amount of backlash, Snapshot Games were also careful to announce that all backers now have the option of either requesting a full refund, or accepting an Epic Store key once the game is made available. Those who opt into still accepting the game will also receive both GoG and Steam keys once the one-year exclusivity terms are up.
Furthermore, all owners of Pheonix Point on the Epic Games Store will also receive an entire year's worth of post-launch DLC and expansions that the game may receive, which seems like a decent deal all on its own - certainly good compensation, if you weren't dead-set on playing Phoenix Point through Steam or GOG, in which case you'll have to wait a year.
Perhaps you've not been keeping track, but the list of Epic Games Store exclusives is rather hefty by now. We've got a handy list prepared that's being updated as we go along, but if you're a fan of Steam, do sit down before reading. Alternatively, ou can check out our hands-on impressions of Phoenix Point here.
