Fortnite: Battle Royale Skipping Google Play Store for Android
In a surprising move, Epic Games has announced that Fortnite: Battle Royale will not be available on the Google Play Store for Android devices. However, it seems that many players are unaware of this decision.
If you search for Fortnite on the Google Play Store, you will see a message that says “Fortnite Battle Royale by Epic Games Inc is not available on Google Play.” Instead, the store will display Epic Games’ Google Play account.
According to a report by Sensor Tower, Google is estimated to have suffered a loss of around $50 million due to Epic Games’ decision. Fortnite earned $100 million within its first 90 days on iOS.
Interestingly, when users search for Fortnite, Google recommends PUBG Mobile as a potential alternative. PUBG Mobile appears as the first result below Epic Games’ Google account.
This decision by Google is likely an attempt to clarify the confusion caused by Epic Games’ announcement. By avoiding the Google Play Store and its 30 percent fee on in-app purchases, Fortnite may be vulnerable to potential scammers targeting its younger playerbase.
The Android beta for Fortnite is currently available on all devices. However, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Tab S4 users will have the exclusive opportunity to download a skin called Galaxy from the in-game store.
For those who are interested in downloading Fortnite on their Android phones or want more information about the Android version, they can visit the Epic Games website.