We already knew that Epic Games was planning to launch its digital store on mobile devices via the iOS App Store and Android’s Google Play later this year. A few months after the initial announcement, the prolific gaming and tech company announced today that the Epic Games Store is now available on iOS and Android devices.
In a press release, Epic confirmed that the Epic Games Store is available for download on Android devices worldwide, in addition to iPhones, but only for EU-based Apple smartphone owners. Epic also shared the steps to install the Epic Game Store on mobile devices, citing a lengthy process “due to Apple and Google’s intentionally low-quality installations” that are fraught with complicated settings, long steps, and “fear screens.”
As Epic previously confirmed during State of Unreal earlier this year, the mobile version of the Epic Games Store (EGS), its digital storefront, is poised to become the “first-ever multiplatform game-focused store,” expanding its reach to Android and iOS, alongside its existing macOS and PC apps. Similar to the desktop and desktop apps, mobile app developers benefit from the “same fair terms,” with an 88/12 revenue split among other incentives.
Fortnite returns to mobile
In addition to the launch of the mobile version of the Epic Games Store, the company also revealed today that Fortnite is officially returning to mobile devices via the company’s digital store. In addition to launching on the mobile version of the Epic Games Store, Android and iOS owners in the EU can access Fortnite via AltStore, a third-party digital storefront available through DMA.
This is the first time that Fortnite has been available natively on mobile devices after Apple and Google removed the free battle royale app from the App Store and Google Play stores in 2020. Previously, if you wanted to play Fortnite on mobile after its removal, you could only do so through two cloud gaming services: Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now.
In addition to Fortnite, Epic has confirmed that Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe are also available to download on Android devices worldwide and on iPhones in the EU via the mobile version of EGS and the EU AltStore. This is the first time Fall Guys has been made available on mobile devices, following its initial launch in 2020 on PS4 and Windows, and subsequent ports to PS5, Switch, and Xbox in 2022.
“The tide is turning, and the mobile ecosystem is finally opening up to competition. We’re 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,” Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney said in a press release. “Now, European iOS users and all Android users can access our store and games just as they’ve always been able to on open platforms like PC and Mac. The fight 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.
