Highlights:
* Fortnite leaves Samsung Galaxy Stores. EPIC will now partner with independent parties like AltStore to expand the reach of its products.
* Fortnite and other games will still be supported in other Samsung devices.
Fortnite and other games will no longer be available in Samsung Galaxy Stores. This big decision by EPIC Games CEO Tim Sweeney is in protest against “rent collectors” that hamper the installations by blocking side-loading. The company will instead focus on working with independent mobile stores that provide developers fair terms and allow their products to seamlessly reach gamers worldwide.
Fortnite Leaves Samsung Galaxy Stores Due To Side-Loading Blockade That Led To 30% Drop In Installations
Posting on X, EPIC Games’ Tim Sweeney announced his decision to bring the company’s video games to other storefronts, specifically mentioning the iOS-exclusive AltStore. His plan also includes launching the EPIC Games application on third-party stores for both Android and Apple. Additionally, the CEO implied that Samsung Galaxy Stores won’t include popular EPIC Games titles as it “obstructs users from installing competing stores” with its side-loading policy.
The Auto Blocker in modern-day Samsung Galaxy devices is turned on by default which means Fortnite and other games by EPIC need a player’s consent. Due to the alert on the screen, many gamers tend to not install the game. The auto-block function can be toggled from Settings but most users are unaware of it.
Following their victory in the US Epic versus Google case, EPIC Games emerged as a trustworthy developer from whom players can download applications without restrictions. However, the auto-block for Fortnite and other games on Samsung Galaxy devices has been discouraging and detrimental to EPIC. Tim Sweeney pointed out that “a single Google scare screen created a 30% dropoff in installations” while replying to a user on X (formerly Twitter).
EPIC Games and Samsung have good relations. In 2019, they collaborated to release an exclusive Fortnite skin that was a shoutout to the Galaxy brand of the smartphone company. EPIC still has an FAQ page dedicated to playing Fortnite on Samsung Galaxy devices.
The exact date regarding when Fortnite leaves Samsung Galaxy Stores hasn’t been disclosed. Despite the unfortunate news, Tim Sweeney confirmed in a post that EPIC Games will continue to support other Samsung devices in the present and the future.
A strong point of EPIC Games’ Fortnite is that it is available on all devices, including last-gen consoles and PC. Gamers can jump into the battle royale and even enable crossplay. Check out some of the best budget laptops for Fortnite In 2024.
