Epic Games Store Lands Exclusive Preinstall on Telefónica Android Devices

Epic Games and Telefónica Partner to Pre-install Epic Games Store on Android Devices

Epic Games has forged a significant partnership with Telefónica, a major telecommunications company. This collaboration will result in the pre-installation of the Epic Games Store (EGS) on Android devices sold through Telefónica's network. This means users of brands like O2 (UK), Movistar, and Vivo will find the EGS readily available on their new phones.

This seemingly small detail represents a substantial strategic move by Epic Games for mobile gaming. Telefónica's global reach, encompassing numerous countries and brands, provides Epic with unprecedented access to a vast potential user base. The EGS will now compete directly with Google Play as a default app store option on these devices.

Convenience: A Key Factor

A significant hurdle for alternative app stores is user convenience. Many casual users are unaware of, or unconcerned with, options beyond the pre-installed stores. This partnership directly addresses this challenge by making the EGS a default option for users in key markets including the UK, Spain, Germany, and Latin America. This strategic placement provides Epic a significant competitive advantage.

This represents just the initial phase of a long-term collaboration between Epic Games and Telefónica. Their previous collaboration, a digital recreation of London's O2 Arena in Fortnite (2021), demonstrates a history of successful joint ventures.

This partnership marks a significant step forward for Epic Games, especially considering their recent legal battles with Apple and Google. This move could yield substantial benefits for both Epic and, hopefully, mobile gamers worldwide.