Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

This seems like an odd move for a gaming company. But I wonder about its implication for streamers who deal with DMCA takedowns for playing copyrighted music. Perhaps a scheme where partnered streamers are granted limited license to play music from across Bandcamp while they stream games from the Epic Store.

Is it just me, or does this seem like a rather lateral move to get into more of the "marketplace" like Epic has been doing recently? Is there some grand goal that I'm not seeing here?

Too bad. It was one of the few good independent websites left. As always, the CEO said they'll remain independent and blah blah blah in the email, but we know how that goes.

Good tip for people on the music side, and something to suggest to them:

1. Set up but do not publish your Bandcamp Subscriptions

2. Add all your music to it

3. Now it's all downloadable in your own user-side Bandcamp library. Check the format: FLAC is best.

Assuming not everyone holds on to masters once they're uploaded.

I'm assuming that, while the store will also remain separate, there will be at least backend ties into the Unreal asset store. Could see them trying to work with some music creators to set up licenses for people to buy to add their music to Unreal games.

Here's a thought.

Maybe Epic's strategy is to fight Apple/Steam (Marketplace monopolies more generally)?

They're already fighting Apple/Steam w/ gaming, maybe they're looking to have a music store already. I think undercutting fees charged by either could be a big win in their eyes.