Here’s all we know about Fortnite for Android including how to install it, smartphone support, gameplay and more. If you’d like to know how the popular shooter compares to PUBG, take a look at our Fortnite vs PUBG comparison.
When will Fortnite be released on Android?
So, the biggest question from the insanely huge Fortnite fanbase is “when will it be available for Android?” and following months of silence, Epic Games confirmed the release date: 9 August 2018.
Is Fortnite a Samsung exclusive?
While early reports suggested that Fortnite would be an Android exclusive for up to four months, Epic Games has confirmed that the exclusivity was only for a few days, and that the company is now allowing non-Samsung devices to beta test the game.
Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge or laterSamsung Galaxy Note 8 or laterGoogle Pixel/Pixel XL or laterHuawei Mate 10/ProHonor 10LG G5 or laterOnePlus 5 or later
There is a catch though; you have to sign up to a waiting list in order to download the Fortnite Installer.
How can I download Fortnite for Android?
Epic has confirmed that Fortnite isn’t available via Google Play, and that users will have to download the Fortnite Installer from the Epic Games website. This is mainly due to the 30 percent fee that Google requires from all apps and games on Google Play, with Epic claiming in a TouchArcade interview that the developers’ 70 percent “must cover all the cost of developing, operating and supporting their games” and that “30 percent is disproportionate to the cost of the services these stores perform”. Shots fired, indeed. Anyway, head to the Epic Games website, sign up (with your real email) to the waiting list and wait. You should receive an email with a link to download the installer, though it’s on a first-come-first-served basis and is being processed in batches, so you may be waiting a few days for the email to come through. The Fortnite installer will, as the name suggests, install Fortnite on your Android device, but if you thought you’d be able to delete the installer once installed, you’d be wrong. According to Epic Games, you’ll need to use the Fortnite installer to install new patches, so you can’t just delete it like you would with a game installer on PC. It’s a slightly odd move, but we’re sure that Epic will tweak the process if there’s an uproar from fans.
Fortnite for Android gameplay
What most gamers are wondering about is gameplay; will it be the full version of Fortnite available on PC and consoles, or will it be a dumbed-down version of the game with basic mechanics and frustrating on-screen controls? Like with iOS, it’s a bit of each, if we’re being honest. Epic Games claims that it’s the exact same game that is available on PC and consoles right now, with the same level of high-end graphics, “console quality action” on-the-go and huge 100-player battles. You’ll also be able to play with your friends on PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Switch and iOS, although you won’t be able to play with PS4 & XB1 players at the same time due to an ongoing issue of cross-platform play put in place by Sony. Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You’ll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.
