After Epic Games had long resisted offering Fortnite through the Google Play Store, the company has now relented. Players can now start the download of Fortnite for Android smartphones through the Google Play Store. However, Epic does not sound pleased about it.
How can you now download Fortnite on Android? You now have two options to get Fortnite:
- You search for the game in the Google Play Store and click on “Install.” This will download the game, and you can then play it directly on your phone.
- You can still get Fortnite directly from Epic Games. You can find the game on the EpicGames website. There you can download it and also play immediately.
On which Android devices does Fortnite run? Your phone must meet these requirements:
- Android operating system, 64-bit, version 8.0 or higher
- ARM64 processor
- At least 4 GB of RAM
- One of these graphics processors: Adreno 530 or better, Mali-G71 MP20, Mali-G72 MP12 or better
The following Android devices support 60 FPS:
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (US variant only)
- Samsung Galaxy S10, S10e, S10+
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10, Note 10+, Note 10+ 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A90 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
- HONOR View20
- Huawei Mate 20 X
- Huawei P30 / P30 Pro
- Sony Xperia 1
- Xiaomi Mi9
- OnePlus 7 Pro
- ASUS ROG Phone II
Why did Epic Games change its stance?
This was the problem for a long time: Normally, Android smartphone users go to the Google Play Store when they want to download new games. That is the familiar environment they trust.
But Epic did not want to cooperate with Google because they did not want to give up a large share of the profits. Therefore, players could only download Fortnite from the Epic website. This has suddenly changed.
That’s why there was a rethink at Epic: As Epic Games explains, you can now download the online shooter Fortnite through the Google Play Store as well. This was not possible for a long time.
According to Epic, this step was necessary now because games not directly obtained through the Play Store are subject to restrictions and disadvantages.
- Constantly popping up security warnings, even during updates
- Third-party software is treated by Google as malware
- Google Play Protect often blocks software not coming from the Play Store
- The deals with manufacturers are subject to strict limitations
This has made it not easy for Epic Games to provide Fortnite for Android players. Therefore, the company is now offering the online shooter directly through the Play Store.
Epic Games does not sound particularly pleased
This is what Epic says about the situation: Epic Games shows little enthusiasm for having to take this step, as can be seen from the company’s statement:
After 18 months of operating Fortnite on Android outside of the Google Play Store, we have come to a fundamental realization. Google disadvantages software that can be downloaded outside of Google Play through technical and business measures such as alarming, repeated security pop-ups for downloaded and updated software, restrictive agreements and deals with manufacturers and operators, as well as Google’s public relations, which label software sources from third parties as malware, and new efforts such as Google Play Protect to completely block software obtained outside the Google Play Store.
Spokesperson for Epic Games
What was the problem between Google and Epic? Google demands a 30 percent share of the revenues of a game when it is offered through the Google Play Store. Epic Games’ Tim Sweeney saw this as much too high. In addition, Epic Games was also supposed to use Google’s payment system, which the company did not want. The in-game currency V-Bucks should go directly from Epic to the players. This would circumvent the 30% on in-game sales. He hoped that Google would make adjustments.
However, Google rejected these adjustments regarding the 30 percent and the use of Epic’s payment system. As a result, Fortnite was not officially available through the Play Store.
What does Epic Games think about it now? The company is still hoping for adjustments.
We hope that Google will review its policies and business relationships in the near future, so that all developers have the opportunity to reach and interact with customers on Android and in the Play Store through open services, including competing payment services – and on equal competitive terms.
Spokesperson for Epic Games
If you still want to play other exciting mobile games on your smartphone and are unsure about which ones are worth it, then read our article about the 10 best mobile MMOs and online games for Android 2020. We have some tips for you.
