Earlier this week, Creative Assembly made their newest title, Total War Saga: Troy, available for free on the Epic Games Store. This insane offer was up for only 24 hours, and even if some players weren’t going to play it right away, it’s still a brand new $50 game that’s being offered for absolutely nothing. This was more than likely done to bring more attention to the actual Epic Games Store itself, and it seems to have paid off big time. Creative Assembly has announced that Total War Saga: Troy was claimed by 7.5 million people on the storefront, all of whom paid zero dollars for the title.

7.5m people claimed a free copy of A Total War Saga: Troy from the Epic Games Store https://t.co/H8pvgbcUUt

— Eurogamer (@eurogamer) August 14, 2020

In the press release, Creative Assembly’s Chief Product Officer Rob Bartholomew commented on the level of anticipation for both the game and the one-day promotion. “We were optimistic but we couldn’t have predicted this level of excitement. It’s been incredible to work with Epic on giving this brand new release away for free. Now we get to welcome so many strategy players – new and old – to experience this incredible Saga. We’re very happy.”

While this is a major success for both Creative Assembly and their publisher Sega, the true winner here is arguably Epic Games themselves. Total War Saga: Troy is currently on a timed-exclusive one year deal with the Epic Games Store, meaning all of those 7.5 million players who got the game for free need to go through the storefront just to look at the title in their library, let alone play it. In addition, those aforementioned players are more than likely going to see other free games that are offered every now and then, as well as other special promotions.

Even if the majority of those who claimed the game don’t convert to actual players for Total War Saga: Troy, there’s a very good statistical chance that some of them will become a longtime player, and that means more revenue for potential DLC, or Expansions should Creative Assembly go that route. Regardless of all that, playing a brand new AAA title for free is something that no one should miss out on, and if this first outing was a success, then hopefully Epic Games will do some more of these in the future.

Total War Saga: Troy is available now on PC through the Epic Games Store.