Epic Games and Telefónica Partner to Expand Access to Fortnite and Epic Games Store
Epic Games has joined forces with telecommunications provider Telefónica to ensure that its Epic Games Store and popular game Fortnite come preinstalled on Android phones. This partnership, which is described as a “long-term” collaboration, is aimed at players under the Telefónica network in the UK, Germany, Spain, and Spanish-speaking territories of Latin America.
In an announcement, Epic stated that this partnership will make Fortnite and the Epic Games Store more accessible on millions of Telefónica Android devices. The strategic alliance seeks to create a more competitive ecosystem for Android players, offering them an alternative to traditional app marketplaces.
Telefónica, a prominent player in Europe and Latin America, was the first mobile carrier to implement direct carrier billing in the Epic Games Store. This partnership builds on their previous collaboration on an interactive music experience within Fortnite.
As part of the deal, players in these regions will have easier access to Epic’s storefront, Fortnite, Rocket League, and other third-party games.
Epic’s Continued Push for an Open App Marketplace
Both Epic and CEO Tim Sweeney have been vocal about their vision of an open app marketplace for mobile phones. While the Epic Games Store and Fortnite are or will be available on iOS in regions like Japan and the European Union, Sweeney sees this as a step towards eliminating what he views as anticompetitive practices imposed by Apple and Google.
In the midst of their ongoing legal battle, Apple temporarily suspended Epic’s European developer account earlier this year, preventing Fortnite and the Epic Games Store from releasing on iOS in that region. Sweeney criticized Apple for restricting competition on iOS devices.
Epic’s advocacy efforts against Apple include collaborating with companies like Bandcamp and Spotify to build an antitrust case. However, it was revealed that these music streaming services were unaware of Epic’s true intentions at the time.
Epic and Telefónica have ambitious plans to bring more benefits to mobile players in the coming years, with a focus on enhancing the gaming experience until 2025.
