Epic Games Store is offering The Callisto Protocol for free on Christmas Eve, marking another installment in its annual tradition of daily holiday giveaways.
The promotion allows gamers to download the title at no cost for a limited period, reinforcing Epic Games’ strategy to engage users during the festive season.
Epic Games launched this year’s holiday giveaway during The Game Awards 2025, providing Hogwarts Legacy free from December 11 through December 18.
Beginning December 18, the store offered one free game each day, culminating in the New Year’s Day release for 2026.
The Callisto Protocol, developed by Striking Distance Studios, is often described as a spiritual successor to the Dead Space franchise.
Upon its release in 2022, the game received mixed reviews. Critics cited pacing and gameplay issues but highlighted its visual and audio design.
Glen Schofield, founder of Striking Distance Studios, acknowledged that the game was released before all planned improvements were implemented.
“We learned a lot from the launch experience,” Schofield said in a previous statement, “but the environments and tension based gameplay remain strong elements of the title.”
Industry observers noted that Epic’s holiday giveaways, including The Callisto Protocol, serve to sustain engagement and attract new players.
Jane Liu, a gaming analyst at Digital Horizons, said, “Even titles with mixed reception can gain new audiences when offered as a free Christmas game. Players get to experience the full content without financial risk.
Professor Mark Reynolds, a digital media scholar at Midwestern University, added that these promotions can also extend the lifecycle of games.
“Free distribution encourages exploration of titles that might have been overlooked initially,” Reynolds said. “It also helps developers showcase updates and patches that improve the experience.”
The game’s graphical and environmental design has been widely praised. Reviewers highlighted the Black Iron Prison’s immersive atmosphere, noting ambient sounds and meticulous visual cues.
“The Callisto Protocol excels in creating a tense and engaging setting,” said Kai Tatsumoto, a technology reviewer. “The attention to detail in both sound and visuals makes it a standout horror experience.”
Since the start of the holiday campaign, Epic Games has given away several titles, including Hogwarts Legacy and other mid tier games, while reserving higher profile releases for key holiday dates.
Previous years included major games such as Death Stranding Director’s Cut, indicating that Christmas and New Year giveaways tend to feature more prominent titles.
Data from Gaming Insights Inc. shows that free game promotions can increase active users tenfold during the event period, even for games that received mixed reviews at launch.
The strategy of offering The Callisto Protocol as an Epic Games free Christmas game fits this trend, aiming to boost engagement and attract wider audiences.
Gamers welcomed the Christmas Eve giveaway on social media, sharing excitement at accessing a well known horror game without cost.
“I never played it before, so this is perfect timing,” said Michael Torres, a gamer in Los Angeles. “The combat style and visuals are supposed to be unique, and I’m curious to try it now that most bugs are patched.”
Emma Davis, a college student in New York, said the promotion added to the holiday spirit. “It’s a thoughtful gift from Epic Games,” she said. “Even if the game isn’t perfect, free releases like this are always exciting.”
Epic Games plans to continue the daily giveaways until January 1, 2026, with larger titles expected on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Analysts expect these events to drive sustained user engagement and may influence other digital storefronts to offer similar promotions.
“Free games around the holidays are becoming an industry standard,” Liu said. It’s an effective way to keep players engaged while introducing titles that may have been overlooked or criticized at launch.
The Callisto Protocol is available as an Epic Games free Christmas game on Christmas Eve, allowing players to experience Striking Distance Studios’ horror title at no cost.
While its initial reception was mixed, the game’s visual design, immersive atmosphere, and tension filled gameplay provide a notable experience for fans of the genre.
The promotion continues Epic Games’ tradition of engaging audiences with free titles during the holiday season.
