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What Epic and Telefónica agreed to
Under the agreement, the Epic Games Store would be pre-installed or made available during setup on new compatible Android devices connected to Telefónica networks. That gives buyers a direct route to Epic’s mobile catalog without first searching for an installer online.
The launch catalog named Fortnite, Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe. Epic and Telefónica also said they planned to add third-party games and expand the partnership over the following year. The original announcement is dated December 12, 2024: Epic’s announcement and Telefónica’s release.
Telefónica described itself as having 392 million customers at the time of the announcement. That is a company-reported December 2024 figure, not a guarantee that all of those customers receive the store.
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Where the arrangement applies
| Market | What the announcement confirms |
|---|---|
| Spain | Included in the initial rollout |
| United Kingdom | Included in the initial rollout |
| Germany | Included; O2 customers can choose the store during smartphone setup |
| Mexico | Explicitly named in Telefónica’s release |
| Other Spanish-speaking Latin America | Included in the broader wording used by the companies |
| Other Telefónica markets | Not confirmed without an operator- or device-specific announcement |
Country coverage is not the same as universal device coverage. Eligibility can depend on the handset model, carrier software image, sales channel and the setup process. A phone bought unlocked or from an independent retailer may not contain the operator configuration used for the offer.
What “pre-installed” means in practice
The store, not necessarily the games
The partnership concerns the Epic Games Store app. Users should not assume that Fortnite, Fall Guys or Rocket League Sideswipe ships on every qualifying phone. The store provides the route to download those games.
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Setup may include a choice
In Germany, Epic’s description of the O2 implementation says customers can choose to pre-install the store during smartphone setup. Therefore, “pre-installed” may mean an offered setup option rather than a silent installation on every device.
What the announcement does not specify
The companies did not publish a complete handset list, operator-by-operator schedule, retail-channel list or universal availability guarantee. Treat a specific phone as eligible only when its seller or operator confirms that configuration.
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Which games and features are available
The initial announcement listed:
- Fortnite
- Fall Guys
- Rocket League Sideswipe
Epic later announced support for third-party mobile titles and a mobile free-games program in January 2025. That broader development does not prove that every Telefónica device has the same catalog or promotions. See the third-party mobile update.
Epic’s current Android page describes worldwide availability except where prohibited by law, including North Korea and Iran, and advertises features such as free-game promotions and Epic Rewards: Epic Games Store for Android.
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How to get the store
On an eligible new Telefónica device
- Start the phone’s normal Android setup.
- Look for an Epic Games Store offer or selection in the app-install or recommended-app screens.
- Accept the option if you want the store installed.
- Open the store, sign in to an Epic account, and download the games you want.
On an existing or unsupported phone
- Open Epic’s official Android download page on the phone.
- Download the Epic Games Store installer.
- If Android asks, allow installation from that source in the system’s “Install unknown apps” settings.
- Complete installation, then review the permission and disable that source permission again if you no longer need it.
- Open the store and sign in or create an Epic account.
Epic’s support page currently lists Android SDK 24 as the minimum, SDK 34 or later for optimal performance, and approximately 25 MB of storage for the store app. Requirements can change, so check Epic’s current support guidance before installing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the Epic Games Store is missing
- The phone may not be a new qualifying device.
- The model may not support the Telefónica software image.
- The phone may have been purchased unlocked or through a retailer.
- Your country, operator brand or sales channel may not be part of the deployment.
- A factory reset or software update may have removed the original operator configuration.
- You may have skipped the setup offer, particularly on O2 devices in Germany.
- The planned expansion may not have reached that model.
The reliable fallback is Epic’s official Android page. Do not use unofficial APK mirrors, which can modify installers or bundle unwanted software.
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Why the partnership matters
For Epic
Alternative Android stores are legal to install, but users commonly face extra download steps, permission prompts and security warnings. Carrier pre-installation addresses the first barrier: discovering and obtaining the store. It also gives Epic a distribution channel outside Google Play and a way to promote its own and third-party games.
For Telefónica
The deal adds a gaming storefront to the operator’s device ecosystem. Telefónica previously described itself as the first carrier to introduce direct carrier billing in the Epic Games Store, and the companies pointed to an O2 Arena Fortnite music experience that they said attracted more than 10.8 million players. Those figures are company-reported claims.
For Android users
The arrangement adds marketplace choice; it does not replace Google Play. Multiple stores can also mean separate update paths, account systems, parental controls and purchase histories. A game installed from one storefront may not update through another.
Security and account checks
- Install only from the pre-installed app or Epic’s official website.
- Confirm that Epic is the publisher before downloading a game.
- Keep Android and the Epic Games Store updated.
- Review and, when appropriate, disable the “Install unknown apps” permission after setup.
- Enable multi-factor authentication on your Epic account where available.
- Check parental controls separately in Epic’s services and in Android.
What this deal does not change
- It is not a universal rollout to every Android phone or every Telefónica customer.
- It does not guarantee that Fortnite is pre-installed.
- It does not make the Epic Games Store the default Android marketplace.
- It does not guarantee access to every Epic Games Store title on every device.
- It does not establish identical billing, updates or parental controls across Google Play and Epic’s store.
Bottom line for buyers
The Epic–Telefónica agreement makes Epic’s Android storefront easier to discover for a defined group of new, compatible Telefónica-network devices. Check the exact market, operator, handset and setup screen rather than assuming coverage. If the store is absent, a compatible Android phone can still use Epic’s official installer; the partnership reduces installation friction but does not change Android’s broader app-store landscape.
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