(Credit: Epic Games)
More than four years after Epic Games' mobile titles were pulled from Apple's App Store and Google Play, Fortnite and a handful of other Epic games are finally returning to Android globally via a dedicated Epic Games Store, the game publisher announced Friday. On iPhone, only gamers in the European Union will be able to access the Epic Games Store on mobile.
Currently, Epic's store or independent third-party EU app stores like AltStore PAL are virtually the only ways to get Fortnite on a mobile device. In 2022, Epic began offering Fortnite on iOS via a workaround on the Safari browser for those with Nvidia GeForce Now accounts. But for many gamers, a browser experience just isn't the same.
The EU's Digital Markets Act forced Apple to let Epic launch its own store on iOS devices in the region. But Epic isn't happy with the "confusing" installation process, which is ultimately determined by Apple and Google.
"For now, the process of installing the Epic Games Store on iOS and Android is lengthy due to Apple and Google introducing intentionally poor-quality install experiences laden by multiple steps, confusing device settings, and scare screens," Epic says. "We are continuing to fight in courts and work with regulators around the globe to eliminate the anticompetitive terms that Apple and Google impose on developers and consumers so we can build a better store for everyone."
Thierry Breton, EU's markets commissioner, applauded the Epic store news for iOS gamers in the EU on Friday, writing: "Yes, gamers, Europe means more freedom and choice!"
"Fortnite has been freed on iOS in Europe," Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said Friday. "Apple continues to block Fortnite from a billion players in the rest of the world, and the battle rages on to restore free market competition."
Epic's new mobile store isn't as robust as its PC version, which has nearly 3,000 games. But the mobile store does include Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League Sideswipe. Epic says it plans to let third-party game developers launch their titles on its mobile store in the future.
Fortnite's mobile version first launched in 2018, a year after the PC game's release. But the mobile version was removed from Apple and Google's app stores in 2020 after Epic Games added a direct payment option inside the multiplayer title in protest of Apple's 30% cut of all in-app sales and restrictions on what developers can and can't communicate to app users (such as how to get around those in-app fees). Apple and Google have repeatedly argued that their rules are in place for user security.