15 votes

Epic's new game strategy for mobile stores

20 comments

  1. [2]
    Bipolar
    Link
    That's surprising, I expected that they would have made their games exclusive their own store.

    In exciting news, we are announcing that our mobile games will come to AltStore on iOS in the EU, and we expect to announce support for at least two other third-party stores soon.

    That's surprising, I expected that they would have made their games exclusive their own store.

    10 votes
    1. moocow1452
      Link Parent
      They're probably setting one up, but this is more faster and good for branding.

      They're probably setting one up, but this is more faster and good for branding.

      2 votes
  2. raze2012
    Link
    nothing too surprising outside of AltStore. They announced a few months back that they were finally getting the EGS on mobile and it's been on their roadmap for years (pre-DMA I never expected...

    nothing too surprising outside of AltStore. They announced a few months back that they were finally getting the EGS on mobile and it's been on their roadmap for years (pre-DMA I never expected IOS, but good progress).

    I guess it'll just be a matter on how the response is. There's no rabid Steam fanbase to worry about and Google/Apple's native stores are truly black holes without tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in advertising, so maybe there's a chance to open up a niche here. At least for early adopters.

    6 votes
  3. [16]
    Wafik
    Link
    So not on iOS in the US and not on Samsung. That's got to be the two biggest market places in the world. I wonder if anyone cares? Are new players still joining Fortnite? I have no clue.

    Finally, in sad news, we are today announcing that Fortnite and our other games will be leaving the Samsung Galaxy Store

    So not on iOS in the US and not on Samsung. That's got to be the two biggest market places in the world.

    I wonder if anyone cares? Are new players still joining Fortnite? I have no clue.

    2 votes
    1. [4]
      jackson
      Link Parent
      I think Google Play has a lot more market share than the Galaxy store.

      I think Google Play has a lot more market share than the Galaxy store.

      13 votes
      1. [3]
        Wafik
        Link Parent
        Definitely. Maybe I misread that. I guess that just means the Galaxy store and not Samsung devices in general?

        Definitely. Maybe I misread that. I guess that just means the Galaxy store and not Samsung devices in general?

        1. [2]
          JXM
          Link Parent
          I read it as they were specifically removing it from the Galaxy Store (Samsung’s version of the Play Store). Not that they were blocking it from running on all Samsung devices.

          I read it as they were specifically removing it from the Galaxy Store (Samsung’s version of the Play Store). Not that they were blocking it from running on all Samsung devices.

          1 vote
          1. Wafik
            Link Parent
            Yeah, I'm sure you're right and I misread it.

            Yeah, I'm sure you're right and I misread it.

    2. [5]
      moocow1452
      Link Parent
      Dedicated players can still sideload, possibly using Altstore worldwide with the PC workaround.

      Dedicated players can still sideload, possibly using Altstore worldwide with the PC workaround.

      1 vote
      1. [4]
        Wafik
        Link Parent
        Sure, but how many people actually do that?

        Sure, but how many people actually do that?

        1. [3]
          moocow1452
          Link Parent
          A bunch of Middle schoolers who want their favorite game on their phone again?

          A bunch of Middle schoolers who want their favorite game on their phone again?

          5 votes
          1. [2]
            Wafik
            Link Parent
            You don't think they have moved on to another way of playing? I have no clue, it just seems weird to think after years they would suddenly return.

            You don't think they have moved on to another way of playing? I have no clue, it just seems weird to think after years they would suddenly return.

            1. moocow1452
              Link Parent
              Sure, maybe with a console or a cloud stream or something, but if Fortnite is your forever game, having on as many pieces of hardware as possible is ideal, let alone the one that you have on you...

              Sure, maybe with a console or a cloud stream or something, but if Fortnite is your forever game, having on as many pieces of hardware as possible is ideal, let alone the one that you have on you at all times.

    3. [6]
      Protected
      Link Parent
      I don't like Epic but I respect this decision at least.

      I don't like Epic but I respect this decision at least.

      1. [2]
        moocow1452
        Link Parent
        There is the question why Samsung is being singled out here since every OEM disables sideloading by default, but Samsung is the only manufacturer store that Epic is available in on mobile, so...

        There is the question why Samsung is being singled out here since every OEM disables sideloading by default, but Samsung is the only manufacturer store that Epic is available in on mobile, so maybe the money isn't right and Epic thinks that they can get ahead committing entirely to 3rd party sideload.

        1 vote
        1. JXM
          Link Parent
          It’s money. Samsung is the only OEM with a store big enough to matter. Epic is just as greedy as the rest of the tech companies. They’re just shrouding it behind a seemingly noble quest to level...

          It’s money. Samsung is the only OEM with a store big enough to matter. Epic is just as greedy as the rest of the tech companies. They’re just shrouding it behind a seemingly noble quest to level the playing field. The only reason they want things to change is so they don’t have to give up a chunk of purchases to platform vendors.

          Epic is a terrible company, they just happen to have the same goals as the rest of the tech savvy world on this particular issue.

          I do disagree with them about sideloading being disabled by default. I think it should be disabled. It’s extremely easy to turn on yourself if you’re the least bit tech savvy. And if you’re not, then you probably shouldn’t be sideloading random apps anyway, for safety.

          2 votes
      2. [3]
        Wafik
        Link Parent
        I'm curious, can I ask why? Epic is only doing this because they want a bigger portion of the pie their players are spending. It's not like the game is still growing, so they want more from their...

        I'm curious, can I ask why? Epic is only doing this because they want a bigger portion of the pie their players are spending. It's not like the game is still growing, so they want more from their current players. Do you think there is another reason Epic would do this?

        1. [2]
          Protected
          Link Parent
          I don't care about Epic or the game so my only interest is in seeing phone manufacturers get punished for their increasingly more egregious anti-modding stances, since I mod my phones.

          I don't care about Epic or the game so my only interest is in seeing phone manufacturers get punished for their increasingly more egregious anti-modding stances, since I mod my phones.

          2 votes
          1. Wafik
            Link Parent
            Fair, I can fully support that. I doubt this will change anything, but I suppose it is better than rolling over and not trying at all.

            Fair, I can fully support that. I doubt this will change anything, but I suppose it is better than rolling over and not trying at all.

            1 vote
  4. Rudism
    Link
    It seems absurdly rare when corporate interests align with consumer interests, but I'm here for it. Glad that someone (even if it's Epic Games of all companies) is holding Apple/Google/etc....

    It seems absurdly rare when corporate interests align with consumer interests, but I'm here for it. Glad that someone (even if it's Epic Games of all companies) is holding Apple/Google/etc. accountable for their anti-competitive behaviors with enough clout to possibly help make a difference. Seems like the next big hurdle is to pressure Apple to extend their EU compromises to America and the rest of the world. Not sure how Apple even justifies the difference--it's like they're nakedly admitting that they don't have to treat non-EU consumers fairly until the law forces them to (which will be extremely difficult in the US at least, since politicians are so easily bought off).

    2 votes