As a “Digital Artist” the single biggest problem we face as artists is and has all ways been who controls the ways and means of creation that is fit for distribution as a product to be sold in what would be considered a free market place. A so called universal platform, in the case of Microsoft, would/could mean that Microsoft would/could own the the roads and highways needed to bring digital content to market.
A perspective is to think of points of distribution like Steam as being a means to transport goods to the brick and mortar stores where you buy products over the counter and the transport company pays the hidden costs.
The buzz word though is not hidden in the word Universal but glossing over the fact that Universal in the world of the Internet is an attack on Internet Neutrality.
As a creator of content as a product there is the risk of additional hidden costs to make use of so called Universal ways and means that favors companies that can afford the up front costs as compared to Epic’s effort to only benefit financially if your efforts are successful “after” it’s delivered to market and in the process leveling the playing field.