For over six months now, it's been abundantly clear that Google Stadia works and works well, but gamers have been clamoring for more games and none more so than Fortnite. Today, Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney took time to explain why Fortnite hasn't launched on Stadia 'yet.'
Stadia is Google's gaming platform that lets you instantly play video games on screens you already own. Stream games directly to your favorite compatible devices. They're ready wherever you have internet, without waiting for installs, downloads, or updates. The Action Building game where you team up with other players to build massive forts and battle against hordes of monsters, all while crafting and looting in giant worlds where no two games are ever the same. Livestream any IRL content you can think of, from art demos to animal videos! Twitch Live Streaming and Gamer Chat: TOP 3 FEATURES 1. Watch gamers play Minecraft, Fortnite, PUBG, FIFA 18, League of Legends and much more. Stream content from the biggest MMO RPG, MOBA, strategy and FPS games out there, or settle in for nail-biting Esports.
In the last few years, mobile gaming has grown massively in two similar, yet distinct directions. Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Microsoft xCloud have brought AAA video games to mobile devices through streaming, while the studios behind games like Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft have managed to get their games running directly on mobile hardware. That said, there's no reason the two can't coexist, especially given the rise in popularity of mid-range devices like the Samsung Galaxy A series and the OnePlus Nord.
Fans of Stadia have been wanting Fortnite to arrive on Google's streaming platform as it would create an opportunity for the Stadia community to grow, but hopes have thus far been dashed, as Epic builds up their own Epic Games Store for PC and soon Android, while vocally disagreeing with the Google Play Store's fee structure.
Today, we've learned the real reason that Fortnite hasn't launched on Stadia, directly from Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney, in response to the direct question 'Why isn't Fortnite on Google Stadia?' In short, the answer is because Stadia isn't big enough yet.
Unpacking the answer, Sweeney mentions that the Unreal Engine that Fortnite uses already fully supports making games for Stadia, which we've already seen proven out with games like Crayta. Epic Games is clearly more than willing to support developers that wish to bring games to Stadia.
As for their own game, the main reason Fortnite isn't on Stadia lies in the difficulty of publishing a game — especially one with cross-play support — and its patches across a wide variety of platforms. Before adding one more platform such as Stadia to their mix of releases, Epic wants to see that platform have enough players to be considered 'mass market.'
To his point, one could definitely argue that Stadia would benefit more from gaining Fortnite players than Fortnite would from gaining Stadia players.
That said, Sweeney specifically includes the word 'yet,' leaving the door open to Fortnite arriving on Stadia in the future. Considering Google doesn't currently offer any useful public statistics on the amount of Stadia players in the wild, it's difficult for us to estimate the kind of growth Sweeney and Epic Games would need to see before bringing the massively popular game to Stadia.
More on Stadia:
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
A battle royale seems to be brewing between tech titans Apple and Google and wildly popular game Fortnite. Epic Games, publisher of Fortnite, is making the first major challenge to Apple's dominant distribution system, its App Store.
At issue is how players pay for weapon and outfit upgrades for their in-game personas. Apple and Google both require a cut for players using iOS and Android devices, essentially cutting into how much Epic takes in on those devices unlike other gaming platforms.
Epic, based in Cary, North Carolina, kicked off its offensive Thursday by announcing a direct payment option for mobile players, which would give them a discount compared to buying through the iOS app. Soon after that, the game was no longer available to download via Apple's App Stores.
In response, Epic Games filed suit in U.S. District Court in California, claiming Apple has set 'unreasonable restraints' over how it handles in-app payments.
'Apple has become what it once railed against: the behemoth seeking to control markets, block competition, and stifle innovation,' reads an excerpt from the complaint, which is embedded below. 'Apple is bigger, more powerful, more entrenched, and more pernicious than the monopolists of yesteryear.'
While other major tech players including Netflix, Spotify and Amazon have raised issues about Apple's 30% fee for revenue from most app developers, this is the first legal challenge, says Daniel Ives, an analyst and managing director with Wedbush Securities.
'This is the first major shot across the bow, especially given Epic and Fortnite, they have such a massive following,' Ives said. 'This is going to be a battle royale and investors as well as developers are watching closely to see how this all plays out and also to see Apple's next move.'
The payment system would allow mobile players to perform transactions on Fortnite without going through the App Store or Google Play. The publisher said mobile players get 20% discounts when paying directly to Epic.
'Currently, when using Apple and Google payment options, Apple and Google collect a 30% fee, and the up to 20% price drop does not apply,' reads a post from Epic Games published Thursday. 'If Apple or Google lower their fees on payments in the future, Epic will pass along the savings to you.'
Google removed Fortnite from the Google Play store a few hours later on Thursday.
'The open Android ecosystem lets developers distribute apps through multiple app stores. For game developers who choose to use the Play Store, we have consistent policies that are fair to developers and keep the store safe for users,' Google said in a statement send to USA TODAY. 'While Fortnite remains available on Android, we can no longer make it available on Play because it violates our policies. However, we welcome the opportunity to continue our discussions with Epic and bring Fortnite back to Google Play.'
Epic Games also filed a similar suit against Google on Thursday. In the complaint, Epic charged that 'Google was founded as an exciting young company with a unique motto: 'Don't Be Evil' … Twenty-two years later, Google has relegated its motto to nearly an afterthought, and is using its size to do evil upon competitors, innovators, customers, and users in a slew of markets it has grown to monopolize.'
Epic also going after Google for monopolistic practices in regards to Android.
Examples belowhttps://t.co/BZbbVfRHdjpic.twitter.com/gieAGIMP39
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) August 14, 2020Launched in 2017, Fortnite features a battle royale format where 100 players compete to survive as the last player standing on a remote island. Since then, the game has amassed a huge following of 350 million players, and is available on multiple platforms.
Players typically purchase items such as outfits or gear on Fortnite using an in-game currency called V-Bucks. Starting Thursday, players could purchase 1,000 V-Bucks from PC or home video game consoles for $7.99. When buying through Apple's App Store and Google Play, the same purchase costs $9.99.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Apple confirmed Fortnite's removal from the App Store for violating its guidelines.
'Epic enabled a feature in its app which was not reviewed or approved by Apple, and they did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines regarding in-app payments that apply to every developer who sells digital goods or services,' Apple said in a statement.
Fortnite Apps On Google Play
Epic Games also teased a new short titled 'Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite,' which appears to spoof Apple's classic '1984' ad.
'Epic Games has defied the App Store Monopoly,' reads a message at the end of the parody ad. 'In retaliation, Apple is blocking Fortnite from a billion devices. Join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming '1984.'
Epic says in its complaint that it wants the court to issue an injunction 'prohibiting Apple's anti-competitive conduct and mandating that Apple take all necessary steps to cease unlawful conduct and to restore competition.'
In its statement, Apple said it will work with Epic to help bring Fortnite back to the App Store.
'Epic agreed to the App Store terms and guidelines freely and we're glad they've built such a successful business on the App Store,' reads Apple's statement. 'The fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users.'
In 2019, Netflix pulled iTunes billing from its iOS app, requiring subscribers pay Netflix directly. Spotify opted out of in-app purchases, too, in 2016, and filed an antitrust complaint against Apple in the European Union. Amazon and Apple, which began to compete as streaming TV providers and device makers, have butted heads, too, until last year, the Apple TV app arrived on Amazon Fire TV apps. Prior to that, Amazon began selling Apple TV devices online, too.
'We applaud Epic Games' decision to take a stand against Apple and shed further light on Apple's abuse of its dominant position,' Spotify said in a statement sent to USA TODAY. 'Apple's unfair practices have disadvantaged competitors and deprived consumers for far too long. The stakes for consumers and app developers large and small couldn't be higher and ensuring that the iOS platform operates competitively and fairly is an urgent task with far-reaching implications.'
Epic's action comes two weeks, Ives noted, after Apple CEO Tim Cook and the CEOs of other tech giants, Google's parent company Alphabet, Amazon and Facebook, appeared before a House Judiciary subcommittee in a hearing about potential antitrust regulation.
'It's not a surprise that Epic and Fortnite went after this especially given the antitrust (interest in Congress) ... with the focus on the app store,' he said. 'If Epic and Fortnite are successful in this push, it could open up Pandora's box for others.'
Follow Brett Molina & Mike Snider on Twitter: @brettmolina23 & @MikeSnider.
Epic vs. Apple Complaint by Mike Snider on Scribd
Google Games Fortnite Battle Royale
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Fortnite' pulled from Apple App and Google Play stores over mobile payment service; Epic Games sues Apple, Google
