We already knew that Epic Games was planning to launch its digital store on mobile later this year via the iOS App Store and Android’s Google Play. Months after the initial announcement, the successful gaming and technology company today announced that the Epic Games Store is now available for iOS and Android devices.
In a press release, Epic confirmed that the Epic Games Store is available for download on Android devices as well as iPhones worldwide, but only for Apple smartphone owners based in the EU. Epic also explained the steps to install the Epic Game Store on mobile devices, stating that the process is lengthy “because Apple and Google intentionally introduce poor quality installation experiences” plagued by complex settings, lengthy steps, and “scary screens.”
As Epic confirmed during State of Unreal earlier this year, the mobile version of the Epic Games Store (EGS), the digital storefront, will be the “first gaming-focused, cross-platform store” and will expand its reach to Android and iOS, alongside the apps already available for macOS and PC. As with the computer app and desktop version, mobile developers will “benefit from the same fair terms,” including an 88/12 revenue split and other incentives.
Fortnite is back on mobile devices
In addition to releasing the mobile version of the Epic Games Store, the company also announced today that Fortnite is officially back on mobile through the company’s digital store. In addition to releasing on the mobile version of the Epic Games Store, EU owners of Android and iOS devices will be able to access Fortnite through the AltStore, a third-party digital store available thanks to the DMA.
This is the first time Fortnite has been available natively on mobile since Apple and Google removed the free battle royale app from the App Store and Google Play in 2020. If you wanted to play Fortnite on mobile after the removal, you could previously only play it through two cloud gaming services: Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now.
In addition to Fortnite, Epic confirmed that Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe will also be available to download on Android devices worldwide and EU iPhones via the mobile version of EGS and the EU AltStore. This is the first time Fall Guys will be made available on mobile, following its initial release in 2020 for PS4 and Windows and subsequent ports for PS5, Switch and Xbox in 2022.
“The tide is turning and the mobile ecosystem is finally opening up to competition. We are grateful to the European Commission for making it possible to launch the Epic Games Store and offer our games to iOS users in the European Union,” wrote Tim Sweeney, founder and CEO of Epic Games, in a press release. “Now European iOS users and all Android users can access our store and games as they have always been able to on open platforms like PC and Mac. The battle is far from over, but this is tangible progress for developers and consumers who can start to benefit from competition and choice.”
Taylor is a reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
