Epic Games' app store will be preinstalled on millions of Android phones

Epic Games has struck a deal with Telefónica to have its mobile storefront pre-installed on millions of compatible Android devices. As such, those who buy a phone from a Telefónica network such as O2 or Movistar in Spain, the UK, Germany and Spanish-speaking Latin America will immediately have the app, which offers access to Fortnite, Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe. Epic will bring third-party games to the storefront as well, while the partners plan to offer mobile gamers on Telefónica's networks extra perks over the next year or so.

Telefónica has more than 392 million customers. As such, this deal could bring Fortnite and Fall Guys to an even bigger audience.

Epic debuted its mobile games store a few months ago after years of wrangling with Apple and Google over the duo's purported smartphone and tablet duopoly — and having to give the companies a share of revenue from in-app purchases. Among other things, Epic accused Google of blocking OnePlus from offering users a way to install Fortnite without having to go through the Google Play store.

However, Epic has had mixed results in its legal battles with Apple and Google. It won an antitrust case against the latter, with a judge determining last year that Google had an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing on Android devices. The judge also ruled that Google's distribution deals with other games companies were anticompetitive. But it largely lost a similar case against Apple.

The Epic Games Store mobile app is available on iOS in the European Union (where Apple was forced to open up iOS to third-party app marketplaces) and around the world on Android. Epic also plans to bring it to iOS devices in the UK in the second half of 2025.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/epic-games-app-store-will-be-preinstalled-on-millions-of-android-phones-175158241.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/gaming/epic-games-app-store-will-be-preinstalled-on-millions-of-android-phones-175158241.html?src=rss
Creato 5mo | 12 dic 2024, 18:30:27


Accedi per aggiungere un commento

Altri post in questo gruppo

How to watch the Android Show ahead of Google I/O 2025

Google's annual I/O developer conference is coming on May 20, and for the first time, there's two major events you'll want to watch to stay on top of all the updates the company's making to its sof

9 mag 2025, 04:40:14 | Engadget
ChatGPT Deep Research can now connect to GitHub

ChatGPT is bringing its Deep Resear

8 mag 2025, 23:50:19 | Engadget
Microsoft says it hasn't raised Surface prices

Microsoft hasn't secretly raised Surface prices, as earlier reports claimed. Instead, it has removed the base models of the Surface Pro 13-inch and Surface Laptop 13.8-inch from Microsoft.com, acco

8 mag 2025, 23:50:18 | Engadget
GoldenEye 007 and Quake join the World Video Game Hall of Fame

The World Video Game Hall of Fame welcomed its 2025 inductees today. The Strong National Museum of Play

8 mag 2025, 23:50:18 | Engadget
Meta will test video ads on Threads

Instagram's Threads app began

8 mag 2025, 21:40:15 | Engadget
The best last-minute Mother's Day gift: Gadgets and subscriptions mom will love

It's getting down to the wire to snag a Mother's Day gift that will arrive on time. But luckily, as of this writing, more than a few of these gifts will arrive before Sunday for Amazon Prime member

8 mag 2025, 21:40:14 | Engadget
Palworld removes Pal gliding as it continues its legal battle with Nintendo

Nintendo's lawyers have killed another Palworld

8 mag 2025, 21:40:13 | Engadget