Microsoft has entered into a partnership with Epic Games to once again get Fortnite back onto iOS and Android devices. The partnership was announced on Thursday, the 5th of May, and will make it possible for Fortnite loyalists to play the massively popular battle-royale title on iOS and Android devices through Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service.
The game hasn’t been accessible through either the Google Play Store or iOS’s App Store due to a dispute between Epic Games and Apple. Even though a trial found that Apple had suitable reasons to force app creators into its payment system and take up to 30% in commissions, Microsoft has criticized the tech giant for its Store practices.
The good news for Fortnite fans doesn’t end there, though. The game’s presence on Xbox Cloud Gaming will also enable players to access Fortnite through internet browsers, just like services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime. This means you wouldn’t need to meet any hardware specifications and could play from essentially any device that can access the internet.
The move is expected to further solidify Microsoft’s foothold within the gaming industry and give it the ability to take on the current video game giant, the Sony Corporation. In a recent blog post, Microsoft addressed the addition of Fortnite to the Xbox Cloud Gaming ecosystem: ‘It’s an important step to add a Free-to-Play title to the cloud gaming catalog as we continue our cloud journey.’ Fortnite holds the title of the first free-to-play game to join the Xbox Cloud Gaming service.
This latest decision by Microsoft echoes one made earlier on in the year when the company took over Activision Blizzard, the studio behind Call of Duty, for $68.7 billion. It’s a different situation, of course. However, both moves bolster Microsoft’s apparent desire to become the dominant force in the video gaming industry.
Over 10 million people worldwide have streamed games via the Xbox Cloud Gaming service since its release in 2020. The service is currently available in 26 territories, including the US.
If you missed the recent news, Fortnite is celebrating Star Wars Day! We know it’s not May the 4th anymore, but Fortnite’s celebration runs until the 17th, come check it out!
