Fortnite has made a triumphant return to the Google Play Store worldwide, resolving a prolonged conflict between Epic Games and dominant app store operators.
The blockbuster battle royale title is now downloadable for free on Android devices via Google Play, timed perfectly with the debut of its newest season, Fortnite Showdown.
According to Channel News, this full global release stems from prior moves, including its comeback to the U.S. Google Play edition late last year and its reappearance on Apple’s App Store back in May.
The issue began in August 2020 when Epic pulled Fortnite from both Google Play and the App Store, with its developer rolling out its own in-app payment system, sidestepping the mandatory commission fees imposed by the platforms.
That seemingly bold step sparked immediate bans and ignited a major legal showdown.
Epic would then sue Google and Apple, claiming their app store rules oppressed developers with controlling practices.
The case dragged on for years, resulting in court decisions that transformed digital distribution landscapes.
Key outcomes included permissions for developers to merge external payment options inside apps, typically at reduced rates versus the app stores’ very strict standard cuts.
Barriers also eased on how these alternatives could be advertised to the players themselves.
Users will no longer need sideloaded installs from Epic’s site because now, the game is fully back in the mainstream stores.
Fortnite is a 2017 online video game and game platform developed and released by Epic Games.
It is available in seven distinct game mode versions that otherwise share the same general gameplay and game engine: Fortnite Battle Royale, a battle royale game in which up to 100 players fight to be the last person standing.
Fortnite: Save the World, a cooperative hybrid tower defense-shooter and survival game in which up to four players fight off zombie-like creatures and defend objects with traps and fortifications they can build.
Fortnite Creative, where players are given complete freedom to create worlds and battle arenas.
Lego Fortnite, is an open world game collection divided between survival game Lego Fortnite Odyssey and social game Lego Fortnite Brick Life; Rocket Racing, which is a racing game.
Fortnite Festival, is a rhythm game, while Fortnite Ballistic, a tactical first-person shooter currently in early access game.
The game has a cult following, with around 400 million estimated registered players, according to BBC.