Epic Video games’ app retailer shall be preinstalled on tens of millions of Android telephones

Epic Video games has struck a deal with Telefónica to have its cell storefront pre-installed on tens of millions of suitable Android units. As such, those that purchase a telephone from a Telefónica community corresponding to O2 or Movistar in Spain, the UK, Germany and Spanish-speaking Latin America will instantly have the app, which presents entry to Fortnite, Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe. Epic will convey third-party games to the storefront as effectively, whereas the companions plan to supply cell players on Telefónica’s networks additional perks over the subsequent 12 months or so.

Telefónica has greater than 392 million prospects. As such, this deal might convey Fortnite and Fall Guys to a fair greater viewers.

Epic debuted its mobile games store just a few months in the past after years of wrangling with Apple and Google over the duo’s purported smartphone and pill duopoly — and having to present the businesses a share of income from in-app purchases. Amongst different issues, Epic accused Google of blocking OnePlus from providing customers a solution to set up Fortnite with out having to undergo the Google Play retailer.

Nonetheless, Epic has had blended ends in its authorized battles with Apple and Google. It won an antitrust case in opposition to the latter, with a decide figuring out final 12 months that Google had an unlawful monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing on Android units. The decide additionally dominated that Google’s distribution offers with different video games corporations had been anticompetitive. Nevertheless it largely lost a similar case against Apple.

The Epic Video games Retailer cell app is obtainable on iOS within the European Union (the place Apple was compelled to open up iOS to third-party app marketplaces) and around the globe on Android. Epic additionally plans to convey it to iOS units within the UK within the second half of 2025.