Epic Games is finally bringing Fortnite to Android this summer following its launch on iOS back in March. But don’t get too excited just yet.
New reports claim the game will be exclusive to one Samsung handset that isn’t even out yet. There’s a chance your existing device won’t support it at launch.
Fortnite is currently the hottest game on the planet, helping Epic reach a whopping $8 billion valuation. One thing that has helped make it so popular is its support for almost every platform.
You can now enjoy Fortnite on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and even iOS. So, why is there no Android version?
Fortnite is coming to Android this summer
Epic, for several months now, has been promising that Fortnite will be available on Android this summer.
It’s not clear why it has taken so long to port the game to Google’s platform, but it likely has something to do with having to support such a wide variety of devices from different manufacturers — a problem developers don’t face when building for iOS.
But will a wide variety of devices actually be supported? Maybe not.
Fortnite could be exclusive to the Galaxy Note 9
Fortnite for Android will be exclusive to Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 9, according to two separate reports from 9to5Google and XDA Developers, which both cite unnamed but trusted sources.
Note 9 adopters are expected to get a number of Fortnite bonuses for pre-ordering Samsung’s latest phablet. These could include up to $150 worth of V-Bucks — the in-game currency — exclusive cosmetics, and more.
It is also claimed that Epic will somehow offer additional game control options to accommodate the Note 9’s S Pen stylus.
Exclusivity won’t last long
For Fortnite fans who use Android, this is disappointing news. No one wants to buy a $1,000 phone just to play a free game. But it is thought that the Note 9’s exclusivity won’t last long.
After 30 days of availability, Epic is expected to make Fortnite available to everyone who has a smartphone powerful enough to run it.
If indeed these claims are true, Samsung will have had to throw some cash Epic’s way to secure this deal — and it must have been a lot.
Recent reports indicate Fortnite is now making more than $2 million a day on iOS alone, so it doesn’t make sense for Epic to make the game exclusive to just one Android device for a whole month unless there’s a big incentive for doing so.
