Epic Games and Telefónica Forge Major Mobile Gaming Partnership
Epic Games has partnered with Telefónica, a major telecommunications company, to pre-install the Epic Games Store (EGS) on Android devices sold through Telefónica's brands. This means users of O2 (UK), Movistar, and Vivo (other regions) will find the EGS readily available on their new phones.
This seemingly small detail represents a significant strategic move by Epic Games for mobile gaming. Telefónica's global reach, encompassing numerous countries and brands, provides the EGS with immediate access to a vast potential user base. This partnership places the EGS alongside Google Play as a default app store option, a considerable advantage.
Convenience: A Key Factor
A major hurdle for alternative app stores is user convenience. Many casual users remain unaware of, or unconcerned with, options beyond pre-installed stores. By securing this deal, Epic gains a significant advantage, bypassing this hurdle for Telefónica customers in key markets including Spain, the UK, Germany, and Latin America.
This collaboration marks just the beginning of a long-term partnership. Epic and Telefónica previously collaborated on a digital experience featuring the O2 Arena in Fortnite (2021).
This development offers Epic Games a crucial strategic advantage, particularly considering their ongoing legal battles with Apple and Google. The potential long-term benefits for both Epic and mobile gamers are substantial.
