I’m just going to say it: getting Fortnite onto an Android phone has felt like a side quest for years. Between store removals, sideloading, and regional restrictions, mobile players have had to jump through too many hoops. Now Epic Games has signed a deal with Telefonica to pre-install the Epic Games Store app on all Android devices from the European telecommunications company. For new customers in Spain, Germany, the UK, and Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, this makes downloading Fortnite much easier. Honestly, as a regular player, that’s a big change.
Fortnite launched in 2017 and quickly became available on PC and various consoles. But the mobile story has been messy. In 2020, the game was pulled from the App Store and Google Play Store over violations of store terms, leading Epic Games to sue Apple and Google. Even now, iOS users can only download Fortnite from the App Store if they live in a European Union country. Outside the EU, or on Android, players generally need to grab the Epic Games Store installer. That extra step has kept plenty of casual players away.
This Telefonica partnership removes that friction for a huge chunk of Android users. Epic Games officially said the deal is "just the beginning," and it teased more benefits for mobile gamers on Telefonica’s network in 2025. Now that we’re in 2026, I’m watching to see how those perks shake out. Even the base promise is strong: new Telefonica devices will come with the Epic Games Store app already installed, so players won’t need to hunt down an installer or fiddle with permissions.
For Android players on Telefonica, the practical changes are pretty simple:
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📲 New phones ship with the Epic Games Store app pre-installed.
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🎮 Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League Sideswipe are easier to install.
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🔜 Epic says third-party game downloads are coming later.
It isn’t only Fortnite, either. The pre-installed storefront also makes it easier to access other Epic Games titles, including Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe. Fall Guys finally got its mobile version in August 2024, while Rocket League Sideswipe has been on Android and iOS since November 2021. Both titles remain available on PC and consoles, but the mobile push gives players more ways to jump in when a full setup isn’t nearby.
| Game | Mobile Launch | What It Brings |
|---|---|---|
| Rocket League Sideswipe | November 2021 | Fast-paced mobile spin-off of Rocket League |
| Fall Guys | August 2024 | Chaotic party battle royale on the go |
Epic also said Telefonica users will eventually be able to download third-party games through the storefront, though it didn’t share specifics. That could turn the Epic Games Store into a fuller mobile marketplace, not just a launcher for Epic’s own catalog. I’d love to see more details, but at least the direction sounds player-friendly.
On the Fortnite side, the updates keep coming. The permanent addition of OG mode gave returning players a reason to come back, while Ballistic mode added a tactical 5v5 shooter that quickly became a fan favorite alongside the main battle royale. There was also the heavily teased collaboration with Lionel Messi, which brought new skins based on the legendary soccer star. Those additions, combined with easier Android access, make mobile Fortnite feel less like a compromise and more like a legitimate way to play.
Let’s be real: pre-installed storefronts aren’t always exciting news. But for Fortnite players on Android, this still matters. It shortens the path from buying a phone to dropping into a match. Epic has been pushing for more control over mobile distribution for years, and this move with Telefonica is a practical step in that direction. I’ll be keeping an eye on how it expands, especially if third-party titles start showing up and if more regions get the same treatment.