Telefonica Partners with Epic Games for Epic Games Store Integration
Telefonica has announced a new partnership with Epic Games to bring the popular “Fortnite” video game maker’s marketplace app directly to millions of devices on the Spanish telecoms company’s network. The marketplace app, known as the “Epic Games Store”, will come pre-installed on all new compatible Android devices operating on the Telefonica network in regions such as Spain, the UK, Germany, Mexico, and Spanish-speaking Latin America.
This collaboration will make it easier for players to download game titles like “Fortnite”, “Fall Guys”, and “Rocket League Sideswipe” directly from Epic, bypassing traditional app marketplaces like Google Play or Samsung’s Galaxy store. Notably, this will be the first time that Epic’s Game Store is pre-installed on Android devices, marking a significant milestone for the company.
Furthermore, users will have the option to download third-party games in the future, providing even more variety and choice. Epic Games has been striving to expand the distribution of its video games beyond official app stores, citing concerns about competition stifling by companies like Google and Samsung.
In response to Epic’s claims, Google Play policy communications manager Danielle Cohen stated that developers have always had the ability to work directly with carriers to preinstall their apps or app stores. She emphasized that Epic is now exploring options that have been available to them all along, following changes in Play’s policies.
Previously, Epic had clashed with Google and Apple over their commission fees on app store payments, resulting in Fortnite being banned for nearly four years. However, the game made a comeback on iPhones in the European Union and globally on Android devices in August.
Looking ahead, Epic and Telefonica plan to expand their partnership in the coming year to bring more benefits to mobile players across the Telefonica network. Details about these future enhancements have not been disclosed at this time.
Overall, this collaboration between Telefonica and Epic Games signifies a significant step towards enhancing the gaming experience for users on the Telefonica network, offering greater convenience and accessibility to popular game titles.
