Wednesday, April 22nd 2020

Epic Games Abandons Android Strategy & Publishes Fortnite on the Google Play Store

by
Uskompuf
 Discuss (12 Comments)
Epic Games launched Fortnite for Android in 2018 players had to sidestep the Google Play Store and download the game directly from Epic as an APK. The reason Epic Games chose to go this route was the 30% fee Google Play takes on all in-app purchases, this move was understandable at the time. Over the last 18 months Google has vastly increased Android security measures with features such as Google Play Protect and "security pop-ups" in an attempt to increase control over Android. Epic Games wanted Google to revise their policies and take a smaller cut however Google has won out and Epic has announced that Fortnite will be available via the Google Play Store going forward in addition to the direct download from the Epic Games site.
Source: Epic Games

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12 Comments on Epic Games Abandons Android Strategy & Publishes Fortnite on the Google Play Store

#1
Space Lynx
Astronaut
I didn't know Google took that much, another reason staying a monopoly will be very important to them in the future. Apple there merely as a legal tool to prevent claims of monopoly. Though with the new $399 iphone, I suspect we will see quite a few middle class people who could never afford Apple make the move, especially with the $1200 check incoming for most people. Very smart move by Apple, this will hurt Google in the medium to long term.
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#3
Space Lynx
Astronaut
FordGT90ConceptOnly Microsoft Store takes less than 30% and that's for specific things that qualify:
blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2019/03/06/updated-microsoft-store-app-developer-agreement-new-revenue-share/

30% is the industry standard (Google, Apple, Steam, GOG, etc.).


TL;DR: Walled gardens suck.
Except for Epic Games Store, which undercuts even GOG? Nice, I did not know that. I think I am going to buy Untitled Goose Game from EGS now, at least I will know more money is going to that developer than if I were to wait for it come to any other platform. /shrug
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#4
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
I was referring to app stores more than game stores in general. Just mentioned Steam and GOG because I know they're 30%. Steam does have an exception for games that sell really well.

Epic Games Store is 12% (if the game is made using UE4, they waive 5% engine fee too) and I believe Discord is 10%.
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#5
Vayra86
FordGT90ConceptOnly Microsoft Store takes less than 30% and that's for specific things that qualify:
blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2019/03/06/updated-microsoft-store-app-developer-agreement-new-revenue-share/

30% is the industry standard (Google, Apple, Steam, GOG, etc.).


TL;DR: Walled gardens suck.
More like middle men suck, but the problem is that the middle men are becoming content producers now.

We know the walls on these gardens are more like garden fences, its artificial and purely economical. Not technical.
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#6
Space Lynx
Astronaut
I did not know Discord even had a store, never use microphone services... hmm. Interesting. lol

I am surprised EGS didn't just match Discord and do 10%, I mean Fortnite has made them rich beyond their wildest dreams.
Posted on Reply
#7
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
Vayra86Not technical.
Servers and bandwidth aren't cheap, especially when you're talking millions of people downloading 50+ GB of data like a big video game launch often involves.
lynx29I did not know Discord even had a store, never use microphone services... hmm. Interesting. lol

I am surprised EGS didn't just match Discord and do 10%, I mean Fortnite has made them rich beyond their wildest dreams.
I think Discord is still mostly funded by venture capital investments. I can't imagine they're profitable.

I actually had a conversation to Fig's CEO about it (partnered to launch some games on Discord because no one else would take them: video game as a service experiment) and he said he's not worried about Discord's ability to make money. :roll:
Posted on Reply
#8
FreedomEclipse
~Technological Technocrat~
lynx29I am surprised EGS didn't just match Discord and do 10%, I mean Fortnite has made them rich beyond their wildest dreams.
Because EGS want all the money. They tried to do the crazy gf thing, Throw a tantrum, run away and make Google beg them to come back when they saw how well fortnight did but Google never took the bait.

So now they are done with their their hissy fit. Throwing a tantrum didnt get them anywhere and they really want their cheesy poofs so they shamefully admit defeat and come back while dragging their face along the ground half a mile behind the rest of their body.
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#9
Vayra86
FordGT90ConceptServers and bandwidth aren't cheap, especially when you're talking millions of people downloading 50+ GB of data like a big video game launch often involves
Hehe different approach to meaning of technical, but yes you're right about that. It does require infra.
Posted on Reply
#10
Mega-Japan
FordGT90ConceptOnly Microsoft Store takes less than 30% and that's for specific things that qualify:
blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2019/03/06/updated-microsoft-store-app-developer-agreement-new-revenue-share/

30% is the industry standard (Google, Apple, Steam, GOG, etc.).


TL;DR: Walled gardens suck.
Out of all these I feel GOG is the only one worth supporting. Though of course when not given a choice, we all have to use the "exclusive" platform something is released on so sometimes it's irrelevant.
Posted on Reply
#11
sutyi
FordGT90ConceptServers and bandwidth aren't cheap, especially when you're talking millions of people downloading 50+ GB of data like a big video game launch often involves.
Yepp... servers, bandwidth, general tech and customer support workforce are not cheap. When and if EGS grows significantly they'll have to grow the backend services with that.
Tthen they'll be quick to increase their margins...
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#12
XiGMAKiD
Mega-JapanOut of all these I feel GOG is the only one worth supporting.
I'll say the one that gives user maybe also developer/publisher better benefits at the time is the one worth supporting
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