Apps

Fortnite skips the Google Play Store

Will come directly to Android from Epic Games

Published

August 4, 2018

Luigi Leonardo

For several months, Fortnite has taken the gaming industry by storm. Millions of gamers across most platforms have already claimed millions of dollars in sales for Epic Games.

Throughout those months, however, Epic Games lacked the one platform that would catapult them to near-astronomical heights — Android. Still, rumors have continuously hinted that the game will come to Android soon.

Thankfully, that rumor will soon turn into a reality. Sadly, that truth comes with a steep price. According to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, Fortnite will not come to the Google Play store.

Instead, Epic Games will turn to their own website and app to distribute their hit game.

The move mimics their strategy on the PC. On that platform, Epic Games skipped the ubiquitous Steam or the alternative GOG.com. Instead, Fortnite uses the developers’ own Epic Games Launcher.

For other platforms, Epic Games was forced to use official stores. For example, Sony and Apple require games to use the PlayStation Store and the App Store, respectively.

Despite the Play Store’s expansive reach, Epic Games has opted out of the store because of Google’s steep tax cut. For all sales through the game, Google has demanded 30 percent for distributor fees. With Fortnite’s current sales numbers, that 30 percent take can result to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

More than Epic Games’ own numbers, the move can also echo across the entire Android ecosystem. Fortnite’s gigantic popularity can push independent distribution as a viable strategy for other apps.

However, the move also exposes Fortnite (and all who follow in its footsteps) to outside threats. For example, malware producers can push their own products disguised as Fortnite.

Even then, gamers might not get the game for a while. Samsung has reportedly entered into an exclusive 120-day contract with the game. With that contract, Fortnite may come to Android exclusively on Samsung’s phone for 120 days.

Other than that, Epic Games distribution strategies are still unconventional. One thing’s for sure: If you want to get Fortnite on Android, you’ll have to go through Epic Games to get it.

Related Topics:Android Fortnite Google Play Samsung

Apps

Meta quietly launches Forum app for Facebook Groups

The app highlights discussions from Facebook Groups.

Published

May 22, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Since the rise of other platforms, Facebook Groups haven’t enjoyed as much popularity anymore. Despite this (or maybe even to help with this), Meta has unleashed an all-new app called Forum.

Designed specifically with Facebook Groups in mind, Forum collates discussions from Groups that the user might be interested in. Much like the websites of the same name from the 2000s, the app wants to feature conversations, rather than canned content that the algorithm shoves towards users on the main Facebook feed.

Users can also ask questions. Forum will sift through real discussions to find an answer. The closest analog today is searching Reddit for troubleshooting questions to get answers based on human experience. The main feed of the new app, however, feels more in tune with Quora’s concept.

That said, it’s a refreshing way to bring social media back to human-made feeds. It’s also a stark admission that the main Facebook feed (and, frankly, Instagram too) is just too inundated with content that users are not interested in.

Lately, Instagram also made the same admission by launching its own “lightweight” app called Instants. Like Forum, Instants was made to recapture the essence of Instagram before the rise of the almighty algorithm.

Forum, however, was launched with much less fanfare than Instants. There was no announcement. Rather, it’s just a casual drop from out of nowhere. The app is available now on the App Store and the Play Store.

Apps

Apple Sports: Free app expands globally ahead of World Cup

Personalized, intuitive experience to get fans ready for the World Cup

Published

May 20, 2026

GadgetMatch

Apple has expanded the availability of its free Apple Sports iPhone app to more than 90 new countries and regions.

This brings the app’s total global footprint to over 170 markets. The massive expansion comes just weeks before the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup this June.

It only means the standalone app is positioned as the primary real-time tracking fan for millions of football fans worldwide.

The rollout shifts Apple’s strategy toward global sports integration by providing the utility completely free of charge on the App Store.

A massive influx of international users are expected to use the app, as it provides a more direct experience — eliminating the need for third-party score tracking platforms.

As part of the personalized, real-time FIFA World Cup coverage, the app is introducing dedicated tournament features.

This includes allowing users to explore group stage standings, follow specific national teams, and view the current bracket through tournament bracket view.

In addition, visual formations for each team’s starting lineup will be provided ahead of every match.

Apple Sports is also tailored for those who have an entire ecosystem of Apple devices. The app can deliver real-time updates directly to a user’s iPhone Lock Screen and Apple Watch.

Fans can further add widgets to their iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Home Screens, and jump easily into the Apple TV app with a single tap to find live matches.

Apps

Netflix expands its cheaper ad-supported tier to Southeast Asia

This also includes more countries in Europe and South America.

Published

May 15, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

If you don’t care about seeing a deluge of ads on your platforms, you’re an incredibly rare breed these days. That same skill will come in handy for those nicely priced subscription tiers that comes with ads. Netflix, for one, has one of those tiers, and it’s now coming out in more countries.

As is prevalent in other platforms today, an ad-supported subscription tier lowers the price you have to pay every month. The catch, however, is that there will be an occasional sprinkling of ads here and there.

Netflix offers this service, which allows subscribers to get the service for cheap at the expense of their time. Currently, it is limited to only a few major markets in the world. However, the platform is expanding the tier’s reach to more countries in Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia.

Starting in 2027, Netflix’s ad-supported tier will expand to 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Indonesia, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Thailand.

Netflix says that the ad-supported tier is a popular option for subscribers. Currently, the tier has around 250 million subscribers worldwide. Since some of the new countries have a more budget-conscious attitude when it comes to purchasing services, this number will likely go up after the expansion in 2027.