Report: Fortnite Won't Be Available on the Google Play Store

It is expected that when Samsung unveils the Galaxy Note 9 on Aug. 9, Fortnite for Android will be announced as a 30-day exclusive on the device. After that, all Android users should be able to download the free-to-play game on their devices. However, it doesn't look as though they will be using the Google Play Store to get it.

As xdadevelopers discovered, there's hidden information on the Fortnite Mobile web page suggesting that Epic is planning to bypass the Google Play Store and offer Fortnite for download without it.

The hidden detail includes instructions on how to get the game on your device along with images that cover downloading and installing the app through a browser and how security permissions will need to be agreed to install the app outside of the Play Store.

Using the Google Play Store is the easiest way to offer the game to the majority of Android smartphone and tablet owners, but there's a very good reason why Epic would try and avoid using it: money. On iOS, Fortnite is thought to be earning Epic in the region of $2 million per day, but of that, Apple takes a 30 percent cut. That's a huge amount of money to lose to a platform holder on a daily basis, but it's unavoidable due to Apple's closed ecosystem.

On Android, the platform is more open. It is possible to use apps from outside of the Play Store and avoid a 30 percent cut for Google, it just means getting the user to jump through a few more security hoops. Clearly, Epic thinks it's worth it to keep all the money for itself. If it doesn't work then the Play Store can be embraced at a later date.

Such is the popularity of Fortnite, I'm surprised Epic hasn't approached Google regarding a lower percentage in return for not bypassing the Play Store. Maybe that's what this is all about and some deal will be agreed so it can appear without Epic having to pay Google so much.