What to know

  • Epic Games Store will bring Fortnite back to Google Play for Android users.
  • The move follows years of Fortnite being unavailable on Google Play due to legal disputes.
  • Epic confirmed the return in a recent announcement, but did not specify an exact launch date.
  • This marks a major shift in Epic's approach to distributing Fortnite on Android devices.

Epic Games is making headlines again, this time by announcing that Fortnite will soon return to Google Play through the Epic Games Store. If you’ve been following the saga, you know Fortnite has been missing from Google’s official app marketplace since 2020, when Epic and Google clashed over in-app payment policies. Now, after years of legal battles and workarounds, Epic is ready to bring the popular battle royale game back to Android users in a more official way.

The news broke when Epic confirmed its plans to launch the Epic Games Store on Android later this year. As part of that rollout, Fortnite will be available for download directly from Google Play, making it much easier for players to install and update the game on their Android devices. This is a big deal, considering that until now, Android users had to sideload Fortnite or use alternative app stores, which could be confusing or risky for some players.

Epic hasn’t given a specific date for when Fortnite will reappear on Google Play, but the company says it’s coming “later this year.” The announcement signals a significant change in Epic’s distribution strategy. Previously, Epic avoided Google Play to sidestep the platform’s 30% commission on in-app purchases. That decision led to a high-profile legal dispute, with Epic accusing Google of anticompetitive practices. While the legal battle is ongoing, Epic is now choosing to make Fortnite more accessible to Android users by returning to Google Play.

For gamers, this means you’ll soon be able to download Fortnite from Google Play just like any other app, without the need for extra steps. It also means regular updates and security patches will be easier to access, improving the overall experience for Android players. Epic is also planning to bring other games and apps to Android through its store, but Fortnite’s return is the headline event for now.

In summary, Fortnite’s comeback on Google Play marks a new chapter in the relationship between Epic Games and Google. Android users can look forward to a smoother, more straightforward way to play one of the world’s most popular games, with more details expected as the Epic Games Store launch approaches.