Epic Games has hired former Blizzard executive Martin Keely to run its digital storefront. The new general manager spent over 7 years managing Battle.net before transitioning to oversee the Epic Games Store and Epic Online Services. He steps into the role during a period of slow user growth as the platform continues to lag behind Steam.
Keely confirmed his new position as vice president and general manager in a public post on LinkedIn. He replaces Steve Allison, who led the storefront since its launch in 2018 and recently departed for Saber Interactive. Keely will oversee both the digital shop and the online services tools that developers use for multiplayer features. His extensive background with Battle.net makes him one of the most prominent hires Epic Games has made in years.
In his announcement, Keely shared his enthusiasm for the new role and the opportunity to work on the platform tools at Epic Games.
I am excited to get started with the team delivering new capabilities that elevate player, creator and developer experiences.
The leadership change arrives at a challenging moment for the company. Despite aggressive tactics like weekly free game giveaways and low revenue cuts for publishers, Steam remains the dominant platform for PC gamers. It is not even close. To close the gap, developers at Epic are currently building a next generation launcher focused on faster loading speeds and a cleaner user interface. Keely will be expected to use his platform experience to turn these technical upgrades into actual user growth.
