Fortnite Android beta and release date – you can sign up from today

Epic Games has begun the sign up for the beta of Fortnite on Android devices.

If you’re a Samsung Galaxy owner you can sign up for the beta today. Like, now. And anyone who buys the new Samsung Note 9 or Galaxy Tab S4 will get access to the free Samsung Galaxy outfit.

The list of currently supported Samsung devices are:

Samsung Galaxy: S7 / S7 Edge , S8 / S8+, S9 / S9+, Note 8, Note 9, Tab S3, Tab S4

Here’s the exclusive outfit for you to strut around the island:

As rumored, Fortnite on Android can only be downloaded from Fortnite.com/Android. It is not available on the Google Play store.

Epic has said that other Android devices will be supported shortly. Here’s all the compatible Android devices

Google: Pixel / Pixel XL, Pixel 2 / Pixel 2 XL
Asus: ROG Phone, Zenfone 4 Pro, 5Z, V
Essential: PH-1
Huawei: Honor 10, Honor Play, Mate 10 / Pro, Mate RS, Nova 3, P20 / Pro, V10 LG: G5, G6, G7 ThinQ, V20, V30 / V30+
Nokia: 8 OnePlus: 5 / 5T, 6
Razer: Phone
Xiaomi: Blackshark, Mi 5 / 5S / 5S Plus, 6 / 6 Plus, Mi 8 / 8 Explorer / 8SE, Mi Mix, Mi Mix 2, Mi Mix 2S, Mi Note 2
ZTE: Axon 7 / 7s, Axon M, Nubia / Z17 / Z17s, Nubia Z11

Original story: Fortnite’s Android release date seems to be edging ever closer, with new official information from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney himself.

Fortnite is a multiplatform smash-hit, but it’s still not available on Android – the most popular mobile operating system in the world. There’s no firm release date for Fornite on Android right now, but the stated release window has almost passed, and recent developments are hinting that we might see something soon.

Be careful though. Since there’s been no full official announcement or apps released so far, anything claiming to be Fortnite on Android that you can download now is not legitimate, and at worst could be trying to steal your personal data.

Fortnite Android release date:

The targeted Fortnite Android release date is “Summer” 2018. This comes from Epic Games’ official blog, which said: “We are targeting this summer for the release. We know many of you are excited for this release, and we promise that when we have more information to share, you’ll hear it from us first.”

One thing that has been confirmed however is that Epic Games will not use the Google Play to distribute the game to Android users.

“Epic wants to have a direct relationship with our customers on all platforms where that’s possible,” Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said.

“The great thing about the Internet and the digital revolution is that this is possible, now that physical storefronts and middlemen distributors are no longer required.”

He went on to say the Android version will initially release worldwide in all regions except for China. Epic is currently working on a delivery method for Chinese customers, even the iOS version isn’t available in China currently.

The most recent rumours though seem to suggest that Fortnite will be a timed exclusive with the release of the new Samsung Note 9 handset. The Samsung Note 9 is set to be unveiled on August 9, before the phone reaches pre-order customers and early adopters in the subsequent couple of weeks. This would mean that Fortnite might be first available to everyone else using Android in September.

With the release of Fortnite Season 5, dataminers found a few more clues that hint an Android release is coming soon. FortniteTracker released a video showing that they had found some files in the most recent Fortnite patch called “Android_Engine”, “Android_Game”, and “Android_RuntimeOptions”. The presence of these files in the live game would suggest that an Android version of the game is getting closer to completion, and at least confirms that Epic are still actively developing one.

Fortnite made its way to iOS back in Spring, and is now available to everyone with a compatible device after a period of invite-only access. On the iOS version of Fortnite mobile invites were given out via email. You had to sign up on the Epic Games site, then you’d eventually receive a code.

This is likely because of the massive install base of mobile operating systems. If Epic were to just open the floodgates to every potential mobile player, it’d be too much to handle. It’s likely the there’ll be a staggered launch of Fortnite on Android too.

If you sign up for Fortnite mobile via the Epic Games site and login to your existing account, you can a list of prospective compatible devices, so you can see how your device stacks up ahead of time. These possible devices include:

• Google Pixel 2 / XL
• Huawei Mate 10 / Pro / Lite
• Huawei Mate 9 / Pro
• Huawei P10 / P10 Plus / P10 Lite
• Huawei P9 / P9 Lite
• Huawei P8 Lite 2017
• LG G6
• LG V30 / V30+
• Other comparable devices

An alternative read of the situation though is that it could just spring up at any time. The most recent platform to get Fortnite was the Nintendo Switch, with a surprise announcement during this year’s E3. This means there’s form for Fortnite appearing unexpectedly on a platform. It’s not like they need time to drum up hype.

Currently though, Epic Games might have their hands full and be focussing their development resources on players they already have. Fortnite Season 5 starts in a couple of weeks time following the rocket launch event that cracked the sky over the map.

On mobile Fortnite isn’t just a straight port, but its own version of the game with many bespoke elements that are tuned specifically for touch-based controls. However, it does an amazing job of feeling as feature complete as the console and PC versions, including the same challenges to complete each week. If you need help with any of the new Fortnite Season 5 Week 2 Challenges, take a look at our guides on how to score a basket on different hoops, and search between an Oasis, Rock Archway and Dinosaurs.