In summary:
- Tech Advisor reports that Fortnite is returning to the Google Play Store on March 19th, marking its first official widespread Android availability in years.
- The popular battle royale game was removed in 2020 due to a payment dispute between Epic Games and Google over direct payment options.
- Android users will get the complete Fortnite experience identical to console and PC versions, available as a free download after the companies resolved their differences.
One of the most popular video games ever made is confirmed to be returning to Android phones via the official Google Play Store.
Back in August of 2020, we reported on the news that both Apple and Google had pulled Fortnite from their respective app stores after game developer and publisher Epic Games added a direct payment option that broke both of their policies.
The litigation between these three companies has been fairly bitter in the ensuing years, but Epic and Google have just made partial amends.
Over on the official Fortnite YouTube account, a brief video has been posted stating that Fortnite will launch on the Google Play Store on 19 March – that’s tomorrow.
Of course, we know that it’s more of a re-launch than a launch, but the point stands.
The reference to Fortnite being playable “Everywhere” might be a cheeky reference to the fact that only US-based iOS owners have been able to play the game on their iPhones and iPads through the official App Store.
It’s been possible to continue playing Fortnite on Android through third-party app stores, while on iOS, such a method has only been possible relatively recently in the EU. Both platforms have allowed you to play the game through streaming platforms, which is a sub-optimal way to play a competitive multiplayer game due to the latency issue.
This is the first time the popular construction-shooter has been widely available on either platform in an official context for almost six years, however, which is exciting news.
As the Google Play Store listing confirms, you’ll be accessing the full version of Fortnite, which should be exactly the same as its console and PC equivalents. That means that any creator-made game modes will be accessible, as will the latest timed special events.
Fornite on Android will be free to download and play on Android’s Google Play Store from 19 March.
Author: Jon Mundy, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Jon is a freelance journalist who got his start covering mobile games at the dawn of the App Store. He has since covered everything from smart home tech and laptops to food and culture, but always seems to return to his fascination with smartphones.