Fortnite is heading back to Google Play worldwide on March 19, ending a long stretch where Android players either had to sideload the game through Epic’s own store or rely on cloud streaming options outside the standard Play Store.
This is a big development, even if Android players never fully lost access to the game. Epic’s official Android page has recently directed users to download Fortnite through the Epic Games Store app, while noting that Google Play availability was limited to the United States. Making it available everywhere gives Android users an easy install option and removes one of the main friction points around mobile access.
Epic’s relationship with Google Play has been messy for years. Google removed Fortnite from the Play Store in 2020 after Epic added code that bypassed Google’s billing system, triggering the legal fight that became Epic v. Google. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit later upheld the jury verdict and the district court’s injunction, with the court stating that Google removed Fortnite after Epic bypassed the required payment-processing system and that the jury found Google had violated federal and California antitrust law in Android app distribution and billing markets.
Epic Games used this as proof that Google’s app store practices were illegal and anti-competitive. The company also argued during the case that Google had used its market power to suppress rival store efforts and lock developers more tightly into Play Store distribution.
When Fortnite was available on Google Play, it was always among the top downloaded games. Undoubtedly, the game will return to those positions very quickly, which will ambiently add more people to the playerbase, as lots of gamers will simply try out the game that’s this highly ranked.
While sideloading is a viable strategy, and Epic Games is a trusted enough company to download “.apk” files directly from their platforms, it’s always easier to download and maintain the updates through the centralized storefront. This is one of the reasons why Epic fought Google tooth and nail.
Who knows, maybe through this, Fortnite will bring us a new esports champion.
