Android Versions of Fortnite Not Coming to Google Play

Rumors abounded last week when a leak seemed to indicate Fortnite wouldn’t be using the Google Play Store as a distribution method for the Android version of the game. If the game was available on the Play Store this would have resulted in 30% of any Vbucks transaction value, for example, going directly to Google.

Epic Games is straightforward and honest in the FAQ, revealing that the 30 percent revenue share that Google requires for all in-app purchases is the deciding factor.

Sweeney says players will need “a recent high-end Android smartphone” to run the game, although he couldn’t divulge specific specs. What’s more, there’s added incentive to try this approach for indie companies looking to retain 100% control of profits rather than giving up 30% to Google Play. Epic is now working on a delivery method for Chinese customers. However, Tim states that gamers “have proven able to adopt safe software practices” and, as evidence, states that “gaming has thrived on the open PC platform through many sources”. “Competition among services gives consumers lots of great choices and enables the best to succeed based on merit”.

Instead users will have to download the game directly from Fortnite.com – something which means they will have to lower the security settings for their phone by allowing the installation of apps from unknown sources.

But EPIC’s motives aren’t purely altruistic.

To us, this makes ideal sense, but it does open up players to a world of fake APKs that could potentially harm devices. Sweeney doesn’t deny it.

What are your thoughts on Fortnite for Android devices not being available on Google Play?

This stands in contrast to the iOS version of Fortnite, which is available to download right from Apple’s App Store. A major reason for distributing games on Android through Google Play is discovery.

The Google Play Store is already blocked in China (although that could change soon), so Sweeney said that Android users there are already familiar to downloading the apps they want either directly from developers or from other third-party stores. You have to figure that when Fortnite made its way to iOS, it made $15 million in the first few weeks. Samsung is playing the hand in promoting the game while bringing its own Galaxy Note 9. They may be worthwhile for small developers, but not for a company like Epic, who knows how to handle payment processing, customer service, and allotting download bandwidth.