Steve Allison Departs Epic Games to Join Saber Interactive as CBO
Steve Allison, who held the position of vice president and general manager of the Epic Games Store for eight years, transitioned to a new role as chief business officer at Saber Interactive. His departure marked a significant change for both him and the companies involved, as he expressed admiration for Saber’s achievements and its focus on developing high-quality games at a lower cost. He shared his enthusiasm for their upcoming lineup, which includes titles like Space Marine 3 and a new John Wick game, while hinting at several unannounced projects that would be revealed soon.
Before his tenure at Epic, Allison accumulated a wealth of experience in the gaming industry. He had previously worked as the senior vice president of publishing at Telltale Games and held executive positions at various companies, including Midway and Atari. Saber Interactive’s CEO, Matthew Karch, praised Allison, highlighting his invaluable contributions to modernizing the gaming landscape, adding a touch of humor about avoiding joint photo opportunities due to Allison’s impressive looks.
Amidst this leadership change, Allison’s exact departure date from Epic remained unclear, but his LinkedIn profile suggested he was active within the company as recently as July. In a public acknowledgment, Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney expressed gratitude to Allison for his role in launching the Epic Games Store in 2018 and praised its growth to 78 million monthly active users.
However, the Epic Games Store has faced criticism during its operation, with many users, including Allison himself, openly admitting that its launcher had numerous issues that needed addressing. The store, which started with a giveaway strategy that has distributed hundreds of millions of free games, still competes heavily against giants like Steam, which reportedly boasts around 200 million monthly active users. As of now, the Epic Games Store’s journey has continued to be marked by significant growth despite persistent challenges.
Founded in 2001, Saber Interactive initially gained attention with its game ‘Will Rock.’ The company has evolved substantially over the years, attributed to a mixture of innovative team leadership and collaborative projects, the recent history including an acquisition by Embracer and subsequent sale during corporate restructuring.
Editorial material: This news is noteworthy as it reflects ongoing shifts within major gaming companies, highlighting the impact of leadership changes on the future of game development and industry competition.