Epic Games and Telefónica Forge Major Mobile Gaming Partnership
Epic Games has partnered with telecommunications giant Telefónica, resulting in the pre-installation of the Epic Games Store (EGS) on Android devices sold through Telefónica's various brands. This means users of O2 (UK), Movistar, and Vivo (other regions) will find the EGS readily available as a default app.
This seemingly small detail represents a significant strategic move by Epic Games to expand its mobile presence. Telefónica's global reach, encompassing numerous countries and brands, provides the EGS with immediate access to a vast potential user base.
The partnership places the EGS alongside Google Play as a default app store option, a considerable advantage. Epic's aggressive pursuit of market share makes this development a potential game-changer.
Convenience: A Key Factor
A major hurdle for third-party app stores is user convenience. Many casual users are unaware of, or unconcerned with, alternatives to pre-installed options. This deal directly addresses this by making the EGS a default choice for users in Spain, the UK, Germany, Latin America, and beyond, giving Epic a significant head start.
This collaboration marks only the beginning of a long-term partnership. The two companies previously collaborated on a digital experience featuring the O2 Arena (Millennium Dome) within Fortnite in 2021.
For Epic, embroiled in ongoing legal battles with Apple and Google, this partnership provides a crucial strategic maneuver. This move has the potential for substantial future benefits, hopefully benefiting users as well.
