Epic Games is launching a mobile games store where players can download its biggest releases and earn in-game rewards.
To start, the digital store will only be on Android in the UK, but Epic expects it to come to iPhone by the end of next year.
The studio is starting small, with three of its in-house games available at launch: Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys (a brand-new game based on the bouncy platformer).
But, Epic’s ultimate goal is to turn it into the mobile equivalent of its popular PC store, which has amassed 75 million monthly active users. A mix of Epic’s own games and blockbuster hits from EA, Rockstar and Ubisoft (plus a revolving lineup of free titles) has helped to burnish its reputation as a major destination for gamers.
However, downloading the Epic Games Store on your Samsung Galaxy or Pixel won’t be as straightforward as grabbing an app from Apple or Google’s app stores.
Instead, Android users will have to go through a series of steps to get it on their phones as part of a cumbersome process known as “sideloading”. Because the app isn’t stocked on the Google Play Store, it is being offered directly through Epic’s website.
Meanwhile, players in the EU will have to jump through even more hoops to download it on iOS.
Our neighbours in Europe can already access alternative app stores on iPhone following the bloc’s introduction of the Digital Markets Act earlier this year.
The new law is aimed at promoting fair competition online, and one of its key provisions requires Apple to allow third-party app stores on its devices.
The UK passed a similar law in May known as the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, which Epic is relying on to bring the app to these shores next year.
For mobile players, the store promises an improved gaming experience compared to the current process of playing Fortnite on mobile. Users can expect automatic updates and access to a wider range of games, among other benefits.
The store will also offer social features, improved game discovery, and potentially lower prices due to reduced platform fees.
To sweeten the deal, Epic could also introduce exclusive quests and rewards on Fortnite mobile, as spotted by leakers.
FREE SKIN: Katalina & MORE Rewards will be FREE in Season 4 until November 2nd VIA in-game Mobile (Android & IOS) Quests 🔥
— HYPEX (@HYPEX) August 15, 2024
[Found this with @SpushFNBR] pic.twitter.com/5kblN8v5sw
In a bid to grow its tiny catalogue, Epic is offering developers a number of incentives. The company says it will take a 12 per cent cut of app sales and in-app purchases. Those who agree to make their games exclusive to Epic’s store will pocket 100 per cent of their revenue for the first six months.
By contrast, Apple and Google typically charge app developers a 30 per cent commission on app sales and in-app purchases, with some reductions for smaller developers or long-term subscriptions.
Both companies also require developers to use their own payment systems, a practice that has faced criticism for allegedly limiting competition and increasing costs for app creators.
Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their app stores in 2020 after Epic bypassed their rules to launch its own payment system in the game. As a result, Epic was forced to offer Fortnite as a direct download on Android and via third-party game streaming services on iOS.
The setback spurred Epic to sue both companies, accusing them of monopolistic behavior, with the dispute since evolving into a significant legal battle. Instead of damages, Epic is now seeking changes to Apple and Google's app store policies to allow alternative payment and app distribution methods.
