Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has announced that the Epic Games Store will be launching on the Google Play Store following a favorable ruling in an appeals court against Google.
The announcement comes after the Ninth Circuit court declined to overturn a 2023 jury verdict which determined Google’s app store and payment system constituted illegal monopolies. Google intends to appeal this decision. Sweeney conveyed the news via a tweet, stating, “the Epic Games Store for Android will be coming to the Google Play Store.” The move promises to streamline access to Fortnite and other Epic-distributed titles on Android devices, eliminating the need for sideloading or agreements with phone manufacturers for pre-installation.
Currently, the Epic Games Store for mobile is only available in the European Union for iPhone and iPad users, while Android users have been able to sideload it from the web since its launch last fall. The Epic Games Store on Android will maintain users’ game progress across various platforms. Earlier this year, Epic introduced its weekly free games program to the mobile stores. The store also features other Epic titles such as Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe.
According to The Verge, Epic may not be the only company to establish a competing app store within Google’s Play Store in the near future. The Ninth Circuit has seemingly lifted a stay on the permanent injunction Epic secured against Google’s app store monopolies. This injunction mandates Google to open up Android to allow other third-party stores as well. “The stay is lifted,” Epic spokesperson Cat McCormack confirmed to The Verge.
Google’s global head of regulatory affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland, issued a statement to The Verge, asserting that “This decision will significantly harm user safety, limit choice, and undermine the innovation that has always been central to the Android ecosystem. Our top priority remains protecting our users, developers and partners, and maintaining a secure platform as we continue our appeal.”
