Epic Games Fortnite Battle Royale rises in popularity after its Nintendo Switch launch at E3 2018. Now, it looks like Android devices are up next.
Popularity Thanks To Portability
It seems that almost every game publisher wants to cash in on the upsurge of mobile gaming. While it is a common sight to encounter clones of popular titles on smartphones, it usually cannot hold its own against an official release.
Back in March, the first portable version of the shooter made its way to iOS devices and topped the charts. This was followed by the Switch version, which was reportedly downloaded over two million times shortly after its official reveal, according to Nintendo.
Its availability on portable devices contributes even more to its success as users can play almost anywhere with a stable internet connection. Now, the only platform that is yet to receive a port is Google's Android.
Reason For The Delay And Estimated Release Schedule
Most people are wondering why it is taking Epic Games a long time to release an Android version for Fortnite. However, it appears the development team has a bigger challenge to overcome compared to other platforms. Unlike iOS devices, which feature fewer models compared to its rival, there are a substantial number of devices that run on Google's operating system.
"There's a very wide variety of Android devices that we want to support. We want to make sure Android players have a great experience, so we are taking more time to get it right," explained Nick Chester, PR manager for Epic Games.
"We are targeting this summer for the release. We know many of you are excited about this release, and we promise that when we have more information to share, you'll hear it from us first," the studio revealed last month.
It was previously rumored to be released this month, but reports suggest otherwise. There is a high probability that a limited beta test will precede its launch and the developer have yet to announce its schedule.
Cross-Platform Gaming
The gaming industry praises Fortnite for its cross-play feature. As it stands, the only console that remains bullish concerning the feature is Sony. Its refusal to open its networks to Microsoft and Nintendo limits its cross-platform access to mobile devices only.
On the other hand, now that the Switch version is live, gamers on platforms other than Sony's PS4 console can play matches with their friends on different devices. Nevertheless, gamers are hopeful that pressure from its players will eventually push the company to enable the feature.
