Fortnite on mobile
(Picture: Epic Games)The outdated Fortnite mobile app will soon be virtually impossible to play for many users, but you can still get your battle royale fix on iPhone and Android by following these simple steps.
According to Fortnite maker Epic Games, it hasn’t been able to update the app since August 2020 due to its ongoing legal spats with Apple and Google over in-game payments.
As a result, not only has the app missed out on major crossovers and events, but it will stop accepting V-Bucks (Fortnite’s virtual currency for purchasing items) and only be accessible to those aged 18 and over from January 30.
Nevertheless, you can still play Fortnite on mobile for free through popular game-streaming services and other mobile app stores. Here’s what you need to know.
How to play Fortnite on iOS
There are currently two ways to play Fortnite on iPhone and iPad, and both rely on services that let you stream games over the internet.
You can play for free on Xbox Cloud Gaming via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Though the latter is a subscription service, you only need a free Microsoft account to access the battle royale game in your mobile browser.
Notably, you’ll need to ensure your iOS device is updated to version 14.4 or later to play. Your gameplay experience will likely be dictated by your internet connection, with Microsoft recommending speeds of 10 Mbps or higher for iPhone, and at least 20 Mbps for iPad.
Another option is NVIDIA’S rival GeForce Now game-streaming service, which includes a free tier that requires you to wait in a queue to play for up to an hour at a time. You can pay to skip the line and play for up to six or eight hours by signing up to the premium plans, which start from £9 per month or £45 for six months.
Both services offer mobile touch controls and support for popular controllers such as the Sony DualShock 4 and Xbox wireless pad. Plus, you can play with your pals on other platforms thanks to support for cross-play.
How to play Fortnite on Android
Along with the above game-streaming options, Android users can access Fortnite by downloading the free Epic Games app from Epic’s website. Here, you can follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the file on your device. In addition, make sure you head into your browser settings when prompted to allow installations from unknown apps.
Samsung phone and tablet owners can also get the Epic Games app from the Samsung Galaxy Store.
In order to play, Epic says your device will need to have Android OS 8.0 or higher, 64-bit, a minimum 4GB of RAM, and one of the following GPUs: Adreno 530 or higher, Mali-G71 MP20, Mali-G72 MP12 or higher.
Supported controllers include the Steelseries Stratus XL, Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller (Android OS 10 or newer), Xbox Wireless Controller, Razer Raiju Mobile, Razer Junglecat, and Moto Gamepad.
