After we have shared with you the news that the highly-anticipated Android game Fortnite Battle Royale will not be available for download on the Google Play Store upon its release, this confirmation came directly from the CEO of the game’s developer company Epic, Tim Sweeney. Instead, users will need to download the APK file directly from the official Epic Games website, which frankly is a bad idea.
By not distributing through the Google Play Store, Epic Games increases the chances of encountering multiple problems, with the biggest concern being malicious software. Users may unknowingly download fake copies of the game APK, leading to unintended consequences such as data loss or spying. Additionally, this complicates the process unnecessarily for new Android users who are not familiar with sideloading.
Updates would also be challenging as apps downloaded outside the Play Store cannot automatically update. Epic Games would need to find an alternative solution to ensure the game stays up to date. Furthermore, Google’s embedded terms for in-app purchases will not work, impacting revenue as in-app purchases are a primary source of income.
Overall, by avoiding the Google Play Store, Epic Games introduces unnecessary risks and complications for both users and the company. The decision not only hinders user experience but also sets a questionable precedent for the future of app distribution on Android devices.
