Google's Lucrative Bid to Lure Fortnite onto the Play Store

Article Key Points

Google offered Epic Games $147 million to bring Fortnite to the Play Store in 2018.

Epic ultimately decided to release Fortnite on the Play Store in April 2020, despite their initial refusal of the offer. However, in August 2020, Fortnite was banned from the Play Store due to its bypassing of Google's payment framework. This led to an ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic.

Google made a staggering offer of $147 million to Epic Games in order to bring Fortnite to the Play Store. This mind-boggling proposal has recently come to light as part of Epic's ongoing antitrust lawsuit against Google. The trial between the two companies began on November 6th after years of preparations. The lawsuit arises from Epic's decision in August 2020 to update the Android version of Fortnite with in-app purchases that bypassed the Play Store and Google's 30% revenue cut at the time. As a result, Google banned the popular battle royale game from its platform, leading Epic to file an antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant.

The case has now reached its jury trial phase more than three years later, with the third day of the hearing at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California including a testimony from Purnima Kochikar, Google Play Apps and Games VP. According to The Verge, Kochikar revealed during her testimony that Google had offered Epic $147 million to bring Fortnite to the Play Store. This proposal was made around the time when Epic released the Android version of the popular battle royale game through its website in 2018. Kochikar also explained that Google was willing to pay out this staggering amount in increments over a three-year period, ending in 2021.

Despite Refusing Google's Offer, Epic Released Fortnite on the Play Store Two Years Later

Despite initially rejecting the offer, Epic eventually changed its Android distribution strategy two years later. In April 2020, Fortnite was finally made available on the Google Play Store. In doing so, Epic hinted that it was coerced by Google into bringing the game to its platform. Google complained about the constant security warnings users faced when trying to download the Fortnite APK file directly from Epic's website. Just four months later, Epic decided to bypass Google's payment framework, resulting in the game being banned from the Play Store and providing the basis for a lawsuit against the tech giant.

Google may have attempted to resolve Epic's opposition to its mobile developer fees by offering to pay for Fortnite's Play Store debut. However, there were other measures considered, including the potential acquisition of Epic Games. This move was seen as necessary because Google viewed Epic's resistance to the Play Store as a significant threat to the Android storefront and its business model.

Previously, Epic Games had also filed a similar lawsuit against Apple. Despite losing on nine out of ten counts in April 2023, Epic did manage to secure one provision. This provision granted an injunction against Apple, preventing it from blocking app developers from collecting customer information and directing users to external websites for app purchases. Apple has sought a U.S. Supreme Court review of this concession in September 2023.

Fortnite

Fortnite, a highly popular game, offers various modes, with its online battle royale mode being the most renowned. In this mode, players gather items, construct structures, and engage in fierce battles to claim the coveted title of the ultimate victor.

Platform(s): PC, iOS, Mobile, Xbox One, Android, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch

Release Date: July 25, 2017

Developer: Epic Games

Publisher: Epic Games

Genre: Survival, Battle Royale

Multiplayer: Online Multiplayer

Game Engine: Unreal Engine 5

ESRB Rating: T for Teen - Violence

Metascore: 78

Supported Crossplay Platforms: Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Split Screen Orientation: Horizontal Only

Number of Players: 1-2

PS Plus Availability: Not Applicable

Available at: Xbox Games Store, Playstation Store, Nintendo eShop, Epic Games Store

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about Google's lucrative bid to lure Fortnite onto the Play Store. On the one hand, I understand why Google would want to bring such a popular game to its platform. Fortnite is one of the most popular games in the world, and having it on the Play Store would give Google a significant boost in terms of both revenue and user engagement.

On the other hand, I am concerned about the implications of Google's offer. The fact that Google was willing to pay Epic Games such a large sum of money suggests that the company is willing to use its financial resources to gain an unfair advantage over its competitors. This is a worrying development, as it could lead to a situation where only the biggest companies are able to afford to have their games on the Play Store.

Overall, I believe that Google's offer to Epic Games was a bad idea. It sets a dangerous precedent and could lead to a situation where the playing field is no longer level for all developers. I hope that Google will reconsider its approach in the future and focus on creating a fair and competitive environment for all developers, regardless of their size or financial resources.