You can now download the popular game Fortnite for Android devices again from the Google Play Store. This is a big change that ends a chapter that lasted almost five years. The return makes Fortnite available on almost all of the most popular gaming platforms in the US.
The comeback comes after a number of high-stakes legal battles between Epic Games, the game’s creator, and the biggest names in mobile technology. In 2020, Epic Games sued both Google and Apple, saying they shouldn’t be able to control app payments. Resolving these issues has directly led to Fortnite’s return to mobile devices all over the world.
Fortnite’s Mobile comeback: The end of a five-year fight
Epic Games and Google reached a significant agreement, which established the path back to the Play Store. In November, a federal judge told Google to change how it handles fees and payments. This agreement came after that.
The Verge says that the settlement changed a court order about how Google handles in-app purchases and billing systems from other companies. This was the last thing that needed to happen for Fortnite to officially come back to Android users.
Earlier this year, Epic Games fought a similar and successful battle against Apple. A US judge ruled in Epic’s favor, telling Apple to stop taking commissions on purchases made outside of its official App Store.
According to CNET, this decision gave developers more freedom to use other ways to pay. Fortnite came back to iPhones and iPads in the US not long after this decision, paving the way for the Android comeback.
For millions of players, Fortnite’s return to the official app stores means that getting to the game is easier and safer. They don’t have to use unofficial websites or hard-to-use side-loading methods to play on their phones anymore.
This decision is a clear win for Epic Games’ goal of making the mobile ecosystem more open. It also means that all mobile app developers may have to change the way they do business on these major platforms.
The return of Fortnite to the Google Play and Apple App Stores ends a time when the tech industry faced many legal problems. The courtroom battles may be coming to an end, but their effects will last for a long time in the mobile world. The long fight over who controls the digital storefront is over now that players can easily jump back into the battle royale.
