Fortnite is finally coming to Android, but it's reportedly going to be a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 exclusive. Fear not, however: that exclusivity is only going to last for a little while, then the app will eventually roll out to other handsets as well.
Reports say Samsung is planning for a huge marketing push for Fortnite as part of a partnership with Epic Games. 9to5Google and XDA Developers are both reporting that the game's Android port will launch alongside the aforementioned handset, or maybe even come pre-installed.
Fortnite To Be A Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Exclusive
9to5Google says the game is going to be exclusive for just 30 days, though that's probably enough time for some players to grow too impatient. So much so that they might take Samsung's bait and buy the phone altogether. Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Note 9 on Aug. 9 during its Unpacked event. When it'll hit the market remains uncertain.
Both publications allege that Galaxy Note 9 buyers will get a bunch of Fortnite bonus freebies if they preorder the phone, including complementary V-Bucks, some player skins, and others. Most surprising of all is that Samsung has apparently found a way to make the S Pen work with the game. The Note 9 won't have a typical S Pen, though — rumors suggest Samsung will equip it with Bluetooth and give it extra wireless features, such as being able to take a picture remotely via the stylus or controlling music playback. Exactly how it will be integrated into the game is anyone's guess.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Reportedly Being Marketed As A Gaming Device
XDA Developers says that Fortnite will play a huge role in Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 marketing, which will allegedly be pitched as a gaming beast thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip and a "vapor chamber heat pipe" that's designed to provide proper cooling during extended gaming sessions.
If true, that would be a radical change of tune for the Galaxy Note line, since these handsets have traditionally been marketed as the best phones for productivity, not gaming.
Whatever's in it for Epic Games, it must be significant enough for the studio to agree to Samsung's deal. Frankly, Fortnite is going to perform well on Android even without Samsung's exclusivity schtick; it's already raking in massive profits on other platforms, and it's even expected to collect several billion dollars in revenue this year just over in-game purchases. Samsung must have offered Epic Games something very good, since it's bound to limit the company's potential profits, even if only for a month.
That said, skilled Android geeks will probably find a way to sideload the app on their phones, anyway.
