Epic Games has chosen to release mega-hit Fortnite on Android via their own download launcher as opposed to posting the game as an app on Google Play.
The move is seen as a way to deny Google a slice of the in-app purchase pie which currently generates $2 million per day. If it were posted to the Play Store, Google would be entitled to a 30 per cent cut of all in-app purchases.
Instead of users downloading the game from Google Play, people will instead need to go to the Fortnite website and download a installation launcher directly.
Not being included in the Play Store leaves Fortnite vulnerable to security issues, which combined with the young user base presents a big concern that Epic Games is not protecting its more vulnerable users as best it could.
Epic Games has spun the cost saving measure as providing consumers with direct access. Epic Games CEO said:
“On open platforms like PC, Mac and Android, Epic’s goal is to bring its games directly to customers
“We believe gamers will benefit from competition among software sources on Android.
“Competition among services gives consumers lots of great choices and enables the best to succeed based on merit”.
