Epic Games and Telefónica forge a significant mobile gaming partnership. The agreement will see the Epic Games Store (EGS) pre-installed on Android devices sold through Telefónica's various brands, including O2 (UK), Movistar, and Vivo. This strategic move positions the EGS as a default app store option alongside Google Play.
This partnership's importance shouldn't be underestimated. Telefónica's global reach across numerous countries makes this a major step for Epic's mobile gaming ambitions. The pre-installation significantly improves accessibility for casual users who may be unaware of alternative app stores. This bypasses a key hurdle for third-party marketplaces – user convenience.
This is more than just a simple distribution deal; it's a strategic maneuver. The ease of access provided by pre-installation could be a game-changer, particularly given Epic's ongoing legal battles with Apple and Google. The partnership builds on previous collaborations, such as the 2021 Fortnite integration of the O2 Arena. This is just the beginning of a potentially long and fruitful relationship, promising benefits for both Epic Games and mobile gamers worldwide.