Fortnite Makes Its Official Return to the Google Play Store in the US
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
After a five-year absence stemming from high-profile antitrust lawsuits, Fortnite is officially back on the Google Play Store in the United States following a court injunction and recent settlement.
The long antitrust battle between Epic Games and tech giants has finally reached a major turning point for mobile players. As originally reported by Polygon, Epic Games announced that Fortnite is officially back on the Google Play Store in the United States. The return follows Google complying with a U.S. District Court injunction, marking a significant shift after five years of friction between the companies.
This legal saga began back in 2020 when Epic filed sweeping antitrust lawsuits against both Apple and Google over mobile storefront policies and fees, which resulted in the game getting pulled from both major ecosystems. While resourceful players could still access the title via alternative app stores or cloud streaming platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming, the official storefront removal created massive friction for the community, especially younger players who rely on frictionless mobile access for their daily social sessions.
Following legal battles that stretched through years of appeals and a recent settlement between Epic and Google, the landscape for mobile platforms is steadily opening up. Fortnite returned to the Apple App Store in the US earlier this year, and with its re-entry onto Google Play, the battle royale is once again easily downloadable for the vast majority of mobile gamers. Epic leadership has signaled optimism about a more open ecosystem moving forward, and players can expect the game to roll out to Google Play stores globally as ongoing settlements are finalized.
Source: Polygon
Tags: Fortnite, Epic Games, Google Play, Mobile Gaming, Industry News
Original article: Polygon