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

Epic Video games has struck a deal with Telefónica to have its cellular storefront pre-installed on tens of millions of suitable Android units. As such, those that purchase a cellphone from a Telefónica community reminiscent of O2 or Movistar in Spain, the UK, Germany and Spanish-speaking Latin America will instantly have the app, which provides 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 cellular players on Telefónica’s networks further perks over the subsequent 12 months or so.

Telefónica has greater than 392 million prospects. As such, this deal may convey Fortnite and Fall Guys to an excellent larger 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 approach to set up Fortnite with out having to undergo the Google Play retailer.

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

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