In a move that could shake up the mobile gaming landscape, Epic Games has announced plans to launch its popular digital storefront, the Epic Games Store, on iOS and Android devices by the end of 2024. This expansion will make the Epic Games Store the first game-focused, multi-platform store available across PC, Mac, Android, and iOS.
The announcement was made during Epic’s State of Unreal presentation at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2024. General Manager of the Epic Games Store, Steve Allison, revealed that the mobile version will feature Fortnite alongside games from “a selection of third-party partners who have expressed interest in joining us when we launch.”
One of the key selling points for developers is Epic’s revenue share model. Like the PC version, mobile developers will enjoy an 88/12 revenue split, with Epic taking only a 12% cut compared to the industry-standard 30% charged by Apple and Google.
“We’re coming to iOS and Android! Same fair terms, available to all developers, on a true multi-platform store – with amazing games for everyone,” Epic Games announced on Twitter.
This move follows years of legal battles between Epic Games and tech giants like Apple and Google over their app store policies and fees. The new European Union Digital Markets Act (DMA), which took effect this month, has forced companies like Apple to open up their platforms to alternative app stores and payment systems.
“Epic had fought the good fight on behalf of all app developers,” Allison said, making note of Apple and Google’s previous restrictive policies.
While details are still scarce, the concept art shared by Epic depicts a sleek and user-friendly interface for browsing and purchasing games directly on mobile devices. The store will also feature new self-publishing tools to make it easier for mobile developers to release their apps.
For the first six months after launch, Epic will remove its 12% fee entirely, allowing developers to keep 100% of their revenue. Developers will also have the option to use their own payment processors, bypassing Epic’s cut altogether for in-app purchases.
The Epic Games Store’s arrival on mobile could provide a much-needed boost to the platform, which ended 2023 with over 270 million users on PC but has struggled to gain significant market share against Steam’s dominance. By offering a more developer-friendly revenue model and expanding to new platforms, Epic hopes to attract both indie studios and major publishers to its storefront.
However, the success of the Epic Games Store on mobile will largely depend on its ability to curate a compelling library of games from third-party developers. While Fortnite will undoubtedly be a major draw, the store will need a diverse selection of high-quality titles to compete with the established app stores from Apple and Google.
As the mobile gaming market continues to grow, the arrival of the Epic Games Store could usher in a new era of competition and innovation, benefiting both developers and gamers alike. With its developer-friendly policies and cross-platform integration, Epic’s ambitious move into the mobile space is one to watch closely in the coming months.
