Connect with us

Tech

Google’s Epic Settlement Brings Fortnite Back to Google Play, Plus Broad Dev Discounts

​Google moved forward on Wednesday with its agreement to settle a years-long antitrust battle with Epic Games, marking a significant development for Fortnite players. While the settlement still awaits final approval, Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney posted the news on X.. “Fortnite will return to Google Play Store worldwide soon,” Sweeney wrote. “Epic Games Store continues supporting Android worldwide alongside Windows and Mac, and installation on Android will become much easier later in 2026.”. A Google representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.. The Epic Games settlement included an offer from Google to change how the Google Play Store works.. “For new installs (first-time installs from users after the new fees are launched in a region), we are reducing the in-app purchase (IAP) service fee to 20%,” Google reported on its Android Developers Blog.. That’s a significant drop from the previous 30%, which could make buying apps more affordable for customers when the change rolls out to US customers by June 30. Google is also discounting its cut of recurring subscription fees to 10%.. Even more important for long-term Google Play offerings, Google is now adding the ability for developers to offer their third-party app store payment option, sideloaded with Google’s payment method, so users will have new choices regarding the platform on which they pay.. Developers stand to benefit from Google Play’s latest changes, though the impact on customers remains unclear. Google. Keep in mind, Google has only just introduced its program allowing qualified alternative app stores on Android and is still in the process of lowering fees, so changes are unlikely to be felt for several months.. When the updates do roll out, developers on Google Play — including Epic Games — will have new opportunities to save money when selling their apps, and new methods to sell that didn’t exist before. That could attract more developers to the Google Play Store and make apps easier for Android users to access. If there’s an app you’ve been wishing was available on Google Play, it’s now more likely to become available.. The changes may also lead to lower prices for customers, although that’s not guaranteed. Google is lowering its profit share, but developers will have to decide whether to pass those savings along to buyers. Fortnite fans aren’t the only ones who have something to look forward to, but it will take time to see the final effects.  

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tech

Champions League Soccer: Stream Galatasaray vs. Liverpool Live From Anywhere

​Can Arne Slot’s Reds handle the febrile atmosphere of RAMS Park?  

Continue Reading

Tech

Enjoy Our Favorite Plumber’s Special Day This Mar10 Here at CNET

​March 10, lovingly known as Mar10 Day, is a chance to celebrate Nintendo’s most enduring hero. And his brother (whatever he’s called).  

Continue Reading

Tech

These Fun New Emoji Should Be Dropping Soon in iOS 26.4

​The distorted face was voted the most-anticipated new emoji, but it’s OK to be wrong.  

Continue Reading

Tech

The Sonos Play puts the best parts of the Era 100 in a portable speaker

​Sonos has just announced its first new products since 2024, when the company’s plans went sideways after a disastrous update to its app. First up is the Sonos Play, the company’s latest portable speaker. Long-time Sonos watchers will recognize the name from the old Play:1, Play:3 and Play:5 speakers, but this new model has little to do with those products of the past. The $299 Play is a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker that sits between the $179 Roam 2 and $499 Move 2 and could be the “goldilocks” speaker in the company’s portable lineup, at least based on what I know so far.The closest comparison for the Play is the excellent Era 100, which Sonos released back in 2023. At 7.6” tall, 4.4” wide and 3” deep, it’s much thinner than the Era 100 which is over 5 inches deep. And compared to the Move 2 (9.5” x 6.3 x 5”) it’s much more portable. That goes for weight, too — the Play is less than 3 pounds, compared to over 6.5 pounds for the Move 2. It’s not the kind of speaker you’ll throw in your bag and forget about, like the tiny Roam 2, but it’s far more portable than the Move 2. Finally, the Play is IP67 rated, just like the Roam 2. That means it can be submerged in up to a meter of water for up to 30 minutes; it’s also dustproof. The grab handle on the back of the Sonos Play.SonosFrom a speaker component perspective, it’s again quite similar to the Era 100. It has two tweeters positioned at a 90-degree angle for stereo separation paired with one midwoofer; it also has two additional passive radiators to increase the bass response in its relatively small case. The Era 100 lacks those passive radiators but is otherwise identical. Obviously, we’ll have to listen to the Play before saying how closely it compares to the Era 100, but this speaker should significantly outperform the Roam 2 simply due to the increased size of its components. The Move 2, on the other hand, is extremely loud and will likely still be the best choice for people who want a speaker to cover a large outdoor space.You’ll find familiar controls on the Sonos Play, which comes in black or white. (Fingers crossed for future color options like the lovely trio that Sonos offers on the Roam.) On the top surface are buttons for play/pause, volume up and down and a microphone toggle. On the back is a power button, a Bluetooth button and a physical switch that disconnects the microphone for increased security. Finally, there’s a new feature here: a removable plastic grab loop. Sonos was keen to note that the Play is a full-featured member of the Sonos ecosystem. Like all of its other speakers, that means you’ll see all Sonos speakers in the app and can group them as you see fit, or have different music playing on different speakers throughout the house. You can also pair two of these in stereo. If you remove one from your network (say you’re outside and away from Wi-Fi), you’ll need to re-pair them though. In addition to controlling playback via th  

Continue Reading

Tech

MacBook Neo Review: The Best Laptop for $600 Is Even Better at $700

​The MacBook Neo is an absolute banger of a budget laptop, but life’s too short to live without Touch ID.  

Continue Reading

Latest News

Politics1 hour ago

‘Questioned democracy’s foundation’: Amit Shah blasts Opposition in Lok Sabha during no-confidence debate

 Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the motion seeking Birla’s removal, Shah said the Speaker’s role is...

Politics1 hour ago

‘Questioned democracy’s foundation’: Amit Shah blasts Opposition in Lok Sabha during no-confidence debate

 Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the motion seeking Birla’s removal, Shah said the Speaker’s role is...

Politics1 hour ago

‘Questioned democracy’s foundation’: Amit Shah blasts Opposition in Lok Sabha during no-confidence debate

 Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the motion seeking Birla’s removal, Shah said the Speaker’s role is...

Politics2 hours ago

10 Maoist cadres, including leader with ₹55 lakh bounty, surrender in Odisha

 Ten Maoist cadres, including a ₹55 lakh bounty leader from Chhattisgarh, surrender before Kandhamal Police in Odisha with firearms and...

Politics2 hours ago

10 Maoist cadres, including leader with ₹55 lakh bounty, surrender in Odisha

 Ten Maoist cadres, including a ₹55 lakh bounty leader from Chhattisgarh, surrender before Kandhamal Police in Odisha with firearms and...

Politics3 hours ago

India’s crude oil supply secure: Centre amid shortage fears due to Strait of Hormuz closure

 India’s crude oil supply secure: Centre amid shortage fears due to Strait of Hormuz closure 

Politics3 hours ago

Rajasthan shocker: Class 11 student hit with iron rods, stabbed to death after dispute over social media reels

 In a chilling incident in Kota, Rajasthan, a 17-year-old boy was murdered by two to three miscreants following a suspected...

Politics3 hours ago

Rajasthan shocker: Class 11 student hit with iron rods, stabbed to death after dispute over social media reels

 In a chilling incident in Kota, Rajasthan, a 17-year-old boy was murdered by two to three miscreants following a suspected...

Politics3 hours ago

Rajasthan shocker: Class 11 student hit with iron rods, stabbed to death after dispute over social media reels

 In a chilling incident in Kota, Rajasthan, a 17-year-old boy was murdered by two to three miscreants following a suspected...

Politics4 hours ago

‘To be or not to be…’: What Supreme Court said in Harish Rana euthanasia case | Top quotes

 In a historic decision, the Supreme Court allowed passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, who has been in a vegetative state...

Trending News

Join Our Newsletter

Stay updated with breaking news and exclusive content.