There’s nothing quite like the thrill of surprising your gaming buddy with that perfect title they’ve been eyeing for months. I remember when I first discovered I could finally gift games directly through the Epic Games Store – it felt like Christmas had come early! As someone who’s been navigating the digital gaming landscape for years, I’m excited to share my complete guide on how to gift a game on Epic Games Store, including all the pro tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.
The Epic Games Store has finally caught up with what PC gamers have wanted for years – a seamless gifting system that rivals Steam’s functionality. Whether you’re looking to celebrate a friend’s birthday, share an amazing indie discovery, or just spread some gaming love, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about this fantastic feature.
Epic Games Store gifting is the platform’s official system that allows you to purchase and send digital games directly to your friends’ Epic accounts. I’ve been using this feature since its launch, and I can tell you it’s a game-changer for the PC gaming community.
Unlike the old workaround methods of buying gift cards or sharing account credentials (which I definitely don’t recommend), this system is secure, instant, and incredibly user-friendly. The feature rolled out in late 2025, much to the delight of Epic Games Store users who had been requesting this functionality for years.
What makes this system particularly cool is how it integrates with Epic’s existing ecosystem. When you gift a game, you’re not just sending a digital code – you’re sending a direct, redeemable game that appears right in your friend’s library once they accept it. No more fumbling with CD keys or worrying about region restrictions (well, mostly – I’ll get to that later).
I’ll be honest – I’ve become somewhat addicted to gifting games through the Epic Games Store, and here’s why. First, the integration with Epic Rewards makes every gift purchase feel like I’m getting something back. I’ve earned hundreds of points just from being generous, which I then use to grab games for myself during sales.
What really sets this system apart, in my experience, is the scheduling feature. Last month, I planned ahead and scheduled three different games to arrive on my friend’s birthday, each timed for different parts of the day. The look on their face when they kept getting notifications throughout the day was absolutely priceless!
The personalization options are another aspect I appreciate. You can add custom messages to your gifts, which makes the whole experience feel more thoughtful and personal. I’ve had friends tell me how much they loved receiving a game with a inside joke or personal note attached.
Alright, let’s get to the good stuff! Here’s my detailed walkthrough of how to gift a game on Epic Games Store, based on my extensive experience with the system.
First things first, you need to browse the Epic Games Store and find the game you want to gift. I recommend checking out their latest deals or browsing through our gaming guides for inspiration on what’s hot right now.
Once you’ve found your game, click on its store page. Look for the “Gift” button – it’s usually right next to the regular “Buy Now” button. I’ve noticed that some games might not show this option if they’re not eligible for gifting, so don’t panic if you don’t see it immediately.
This is where the magic happens! Click the “Gift” button, and you’ll see a list of your Epic friends. Pro tip: Make sure the person you want to gift to is actually on your friends list first. I learned this the hard way when I tried to gift a game to someone I hadn’t added yet.
One of my favorite parts – you can add a personal message to your gift! I like to make these messages personal and fun. Sometimes I’ll reference inside jokes, other times I’ll write why I think they’ll love this particular game.
This feature is absolutely brilliant! You can choose to send the gift immediately or schedule it for a specific date and time. I’ve used this for birthdays, holidays, and even just to surprise friends on random Tuesdays (because why not?).
The final step is completing your purchase. You’ll go through the normal checkout process, but with the added bonus of earning Epic Rewards on your purchase. I always make sure to use any existing Epic Rewards balance I have to save a bit of money.
Based on my experience gifting dozens of games, here’s the complete breakdown of what’s eligible:
I learned this list through trial and error, so trust me when I say it’s better to check eligibility before getting your heart set on gifting something specific.
Now that you know the basics, let me share some advanced strategies I’ve developed for maximizing your gifting experience on the Epic Games Store.
I’ve found that timing is everything when it comes to gifting. During major sales events like the Epic Mega Sale, you can grab games at incredible discounts and gift them to friends. I’ve saved hundreds of dollars this way!
Here’s a pro tip I discovered: if you’re planning to gift multiple games, consider doing them in separate transactions. Each gift purchase earns you Epic Rewards, so spreading out your purchases can actually earn you more points over time.
This is important: cross-regional gifting isn’t currently supported. I tried to gift a game to a friend in Europe once, and it simply wouldn’t let me. Epic is supposedly working on this feature, but for now, make sure your friend is in the same region as you.
If you’re planning to gift games to multiple friends (like for a gaming group), I recommend creating a spreadsheet to track who gets what and when. I do this for my gaming community, and it helps me stay organized and ensure everyone gets something they’ll love.
Even with a well-designed system like Epic’s, things can sometimes go wrong. Here are some common issues I’ve encountered and how to solve them:
Solution: Don’t worry! If your friend doesn’t accept the gift within 14 days, you’ll automatically receive a full refund. I’ve had this happen when friends were busy or forgot to check their Epic account.
Solution: This is actually handled automatically! If your friend already owns the game, the gift won’t go through, and you’ll get an immediate refund. I appreciate this feature – it saves everyone from awkward situations.
Solution: Sometimes friends might reject gifts for various reasons. If this happens, you’ll receive a full refund. I’ve learned to check with friends before gifting them expensive titles to avoid this situation.
Solution: If you encounter payment problems, double-check that your payment method is valid and that you have sufficient funds. I’ve had issues with expired cards or insufficient balance that caused gift purchases to fail.
As someone who uses multiple gaming platforms, I can tell you that Epic’s gifting system has some unique advantages and disadvantages compared to others.
Epic Advantages:
Steam Advantages:
Epic Advantages:
GOG Advantages:
Through my years of gifting games, I’ve learned some unwritten rules of game gifting etiquette that I think everyone should know:
Before gifting a game, make sure it’s something your friend will actually enjoy. I always check friends’ wishlists or ask them indirectly about their gaming preferences.
I’ve found that gifting games during major sales events or around holidays is always appreciated. Everyone loves getting a great deal, even if it’s a gift!
While it’s tempting to gift expensive AAA titles, sometimes smaller, thoughtful indie games can be more meaningful. I’ve found that friends often appreciate the thought behind the gift more than the price tag.
After gifting a game, I always follow up to see if my friend enjoyed it. This not only shows I care but also helps me make better gifting choices in the future.
Epic has been continuously improving their gifting system, and here are the latest updates I’ve noticed:
The scheduling system has become more robust, allowing for more precise timing of gift delivery. I’ve used this to coordinate surprise gifts across different time zones.
The notification system has been refined, making it easier for recipients to know when they’ve received a gift. I’ve noticed fewer instances of friends missing their gifts.
While full cross-regional gifting isn’t available yet, Epic has improved support for neighboring regions, making it easier to gift to friends in nearby countries.
The gifting feature is now better integrated with the Epic Games mobile app, though full functionality is still primarily available on the PC version of the store.
Based on questions I’ve received from friends and readers, here are the most common questions about Epic Games Store gifting:
Your friend has 14 days to accept the gift. If they don’t accept it within this timeframe, you’ll automatically receive a full refund.
No, you can only gift games to people who are on your Epic friends list. This is a security measure to prevent unauthorized gifting.
If your friend already owns the game, the gift won’t be delivered, and you’ll receive an automatic refund. This is actually a great feature that prevents duplicate purchases.
Yes! You can schedule gifts to be delivered on specific dates and times. I love using this feature for birthdays and holidays.
Absolutely! You earn Epic Rewards on every gift purchase, just like regular purchases. This is one of my favorite aspects of the gifting system.
Currently, cross-regional gifting is not supported. You can only gift games to friends in the same region as you. Epic is working on expanding this feature.
If your friend rejects the gift, you’ll receive a full refund. This has happened to me a few times when friends already had the game or weren’t interested in the title.
No, in-game currency, subscriptions, and consumable items cannot be gifted. Only paid games, editions, durable add-ons, and eligible bundles can be gifted.
Gifting games on the Epic Games Store has become one of my favorite ways to share my passion for gaming with friends. The system is intuitive, secure, and packed with features that make the experience enjoyable for both the sender and recipient.
From the seamless integration with Epic Rewards to the thoughtful scheduling options, Epic has created a gifting system that truly enhances the social aspect of PC gaming. I’ve had countless memorable moments surprising friends with perfectly timed gifts, and I’m excited to see how the system continues to evolve.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, sharing a game you love, or just want to spread some gaming joy, the Epic Games Store gifting feature makes it easier than ever. I encourage you to try it out – start with something small, see how it feels, and before you know it, you might just become as addicted to gifting as I am!
Happy gifting, and may your friends always be pleasantly surprised by your excellent taste in games! If you have any questions or want to share your own gifting experiences, feel free to drop a comment below. I’d love to hear about your Epic Games Store gifting adventures!
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