Fortnite for Android will require APK install and skip Google Play, to run only on ‘high-end’ devices

Fortnite for Android will require APK install and skip Google Play, to run only on ‘high-end’ devices

Publicity around the beginning of Fortnight for Android, there is no need to say heavy. Users are very excited for this launch, but the details surrounding it look very sad ...

If you remember last week, it was revealed in the source code that Epic Games was potentially abandoning the distribution of Fortnite through the Google Play Store and was instead offering the APK through its website. Now, the CEO of Epic has confirmed that.

Tim Sweeney, sat with the CEO of the epic game VentureBeat Fortnite to discuss this week, and the Android release was a big topic. One of the first tricks was that this game will not be available through the Google Play Store. Instead, Epic will distribute Android Release through its website as an APK download. Sweeney explains:

We are distributing FortNight to Android users from epicgames.com. You visit our website, click on the download button, and go through some signals to download and install Fortnite. There is no third party store in it. This is like PC experience, the way PC and Mac users install FortNight. Now it works on Android, which is possible because Android is an open platform.

He further said that the epic is going on this route, first of all, to keep "direct relationship" with our customers. However, the second (and perhaps the primary) cause is to avoid "the economics of store ecosystem". In a nutshell, Epic in-app is avoiding the 30/70 split with Google Play for purchase. It should not be a shock when considering the huge amounts of iOS release, and these fees still apply to app stores. On Android release, payment will be available through credit card and PayPal.

I would still argue that this is a big mistake because it is risking many users in the security case, but considering the catch, there are so many players with this big hit of epic games in the epic games. I do not think that many are going to complain, and it is a matter of shame.

On the bright side, Sweeney revealed some of FortNeight's capabilities for Android. It will not be based on OS version but will be based on device specifications. They say that FortNight "Hi-End" will run on Android phones, saying that "2.5 billion Android devices in the world or 300 million will run it well." Sweeney also praised the development of the game on Android.

Our experience in creating Fort Nite for Android has been especially positive. Android is a terrific open platform. It has been inappropriate as an open platform. Since the beginning, it supports the installation of third-party apps, and that support with Android Oreo has completely improved. This is actually a strong framework to ensure user safety and give full control over what is happening to users on their device. We are thrilled with this, and we are excited about that general direction in the industry.

We still do not know that Fortnight is going to start on Android, but as we first reported last month, it can be accessed specifically at Note 9 this month. From there, it may be exclusively finished for a while for Samsung.