Telefonica Partners with Epic Games

(Reuters) – Telefonica is partnering with Epic Games to bring the "Fortnite" video game maker's marketplace app directly to millions of devices on the Spanish telecoms company's network.

Launching the Epic Games Store

The marketplace app, called "Epic Games Store", will be pre-installed on all new compatible Android devices operating on the Telefonica (NYSE:TEF) network across regions including Spain, the UK, Germany, Mexico, and Spanish-speaking Latin America.

This move allows players to more easily download game titles such as "Fortnite", "Fall Guys", and "Rocket League Sideswipe" directly from Epic, rather than relying on conventional app marketplaces like Google's Play or Samsung's (KS:005930) Galaxy store.

A New Approach for Epic Games

This marks the first time Epic's Game Store will be pre-installed on Android devices. Users will also have the ability to download third-party games in the future.

Epic has been attempting to expand the distribution of its video games beyond smartphone companies' official app stores, accusing Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)'s Google and Samsung of stifling app store competition.

Google’s Response

In a statement, Google Play policy communications manager Danielle Cohen said that developers like Epic could always work directly with carriers to preinstall their apps or app stores. She noted, "All that has changed is that Epic understands it won't receive a free ride on Play, so they're finally pursuing the options that have been available to them all along."

Epic previously had a face-off with Google and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) over their commissions of up to 30% on app store payments. After a ban lasting nearly four years, Fortnite returned to iPhones in the EU and globally on Google’s Android devices in August.

Future Prospects

Cary, North Carolina-based Epic and Telefonica stated they would expand the partnership over the next year and "bring more benefits to mobile players across the Telefonica network," without elaborating.