Rumor: Epic Games wants to make Fortnite available on Google Play Store

Developer Epic Games would like to submit Fortnite to the Play Store. Currently, users need to download an apk file from Epic’s website to play the Android version. Epic would like to keep its own payment system, which is against Google’s rules.

According to sources from 9to5Google, Epic Games is about to submit Fortnite to the Google Play Store. The game is not there yet because the developer does not want to give income from in-game purchases to Google. With apps that are in the Play Store, Google withholds 30 percent of such revenue.

According to the sources, Epic Games wants to keep its own payment system for buying V-Bucks and thus not give a percentage to Google. Google tells 9to5Google that the company welcomes developers who “recognize the rules of the Play Store.” So it looks like Google won’t make an exception for Epic Games.

Using a proprietary payment system is against the policy of the Google Play Store. It states that developers who offer in-app purchases must do so through Google’s payment system. Apple has a similar policy. Both companies take 30 percent of revenues from in-app purchases as operating fees, although both companies take a smaller percentage from sales of subscription services like Spotify Premium.

When the mobile version of Fortnite was released, Epic indicated that it would distribute the Android version through its own website due to “economic efficiency.” The iOS version of the game will be provided through Apple’s App Store, as users will not be able to install applications outside of this store. Epic therefore gives a percentage of its revenue to Apple.

The appearance of Fortnite in the Play Store would make installation of the app more secure. Now, Android users must allow third-party apps to be installed on their phones. With the release of Fortnite on Android, Google found a vulnerability in the installer. This allowed apps to be installed on phones without users realizing it. Also, apps outside the Play Store are easier to abuse for phishing, because the download website is relatively easy to counterfeit.

It is still unclear whether Fortnite will actually appear in the Play Store, especially since the current version of the app violates Google’s terms and conditions. Google takes an average of three days to review an app. More clarity may follow later this week.

The current Fortnite installation process on Android