Fortnite for Android is still coming but it will not be available on Google Play, Will have its own launcher

Speaking to TouchArcade, Tim Sweeney discussed the reasoning for ditching Google Play.

Tim Sweeney spoke to Eli at TouchArcade about Fortnite’s upcoming Android launch. There was a rumour that Fortnite for Android would ditch Google Play and that is now confirmed to be happening. Epic will be rolling out a Fortnite Installer for Android so that they don’t give up 30% commission to Google Play which is what they are doing on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and iOS right now. On PC platforms, they have their own launcher as well. Tim Sweeney said this when asked about ditching Google Play for the upcoming Android launch:

First, Epic wants to have a direct relationship with our customers on all platforms where that’s possible. The great thing about the Internet and the digital revolution is that this is possible, now that physical storefronts and middlemen distributors are no longer required.

Second, we’re motivated by economic efficiency. The 30% store tax is a high cost in a world where game developers’ 70% must cover all the cost of developing, operating, and supporting their games. There’s a rationale for this on console where there’s enormous investment in hardware, often sold below cost, and marketing campaigns in broad partnership with publishers. But on open platforms, 30% is disproportionate to the cost of the services these stores perform, such as payment processing, download bandwidth, and customer service. We’re intimately familiar with these costs from our experience operating Fortnite as a direct-to-customer service on PC and Mac.

Read the full interview on TouchArcade here.

Fortnite is available on PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms. It will hit Android in Summer.