Fortnite is a third-person multiplayer competitive shooter that has expanded its presence from PC and consoles to Apple iOS and Android phones. The game derives its competitive nature from other shooters like Counter-Strike: GO, Overwatch, and PUBG. Fortnite for the Android was released as a beta last year and hasn’t made its way into the Google Play store as of this writing. However, it is available for download via the Epic Games page. All you have to do is go to the company page and scan the QR code or click on the download link to download the game.

Gameplay:

Gameplay for these versions is virtually identical with their PC and console counterparts. You play in the third person, collecting materials to build structures that serve as your fortifications in-game. The ability to build structures adds a strategic layer where players can use buildings as safe havens to re-arm or heal themselves, or as a staging area to push towards another part of the map.

The Battle Royale mod is the only game mode that is available within these iterations game. Matches occur between multiple players and teams up to 100 players tops. The style of play is similar to PUBG where players parachute into a map, searching for weapons all over the map via adjacent locations until they fight. PUBG influenced Fortnite’s map mechanics during multiplayer matches where the map gradually shrinks, increasing the frequency of encounters between players and discouraging camping certain areas to make the play more dynamic and encourage combat. Players win whenever they or their team are the last ones standing the match.

Epic Games attempts to translate the gameplay experience to portables via the iOS and Android phones, albeit with mixed results. While the iOS version plays fine, the transition for the Android version ended up poorly. It has become something of a frustration to play the game on a smartphone due to the lack of control intuitiveness. We experienced laggy matches and the fact that the frame rates during gameplay were sluggish. The iOS felt much smoother in comparison to its Android cousin. We played both versions of Fortnite with a Bluetooth-capable controller to see how smooth our characters handled in-game.

Conclusion:

While the controls and gameplay experience is not as smooth-looking or fluid compared to their PC and console counterparts, both the iOS and Android provides enough of play experience for phone users that is only satisfactory at best. The fact that the Android version doesn’t perform as well as it should leave a significant mark on Epic Games’ reputation and a lot to be desired. The iOS version, on the other hand, is tolerable and plays smoothly enough for you to enjoy without being frustrated too hard due to the frame rates on smartphones. Fortnite for the Android and iOS versions are ideal for the hardcore segment of the franchise’s player base. If you have an iPhone, this is an ok-title to play. If you have an Android, avoid this at all costs.