One of the biggest stories of 2020 was Apple and Google’s decision to remove Fortnite entirely from the App Store and Play Store. The companies claim this is because Epic Games (the company that owns and operates Fortnite) had implemented an in-game store for purchasing content. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem, but the in-game store circumvented both Apple and Google’s method for handling in-app purchases. The reason for this, according to Epic, was because of the percentages taken by Apple and Google (30% on each purchase) resulting in Epic missing out on a lot of money.
Needless to say, with how popular Fortnite has become, it came as a bit of shock to see the game completely removed from the App Store. For a period of time, you could still re-install the game from your App History, but even that workaround has been removed. Enter NVIDIA and GeForce Now. Epic Games has partnered with NVIDIA to bring a cloud-streaming version of Fortnite to iOS and Android users.
What is GeForce Now?
Game streaming has taken off over the course of 2020, and for good reason with more and more people staying home. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars (or more) on a new computer or console, you can play some of the best games right from your iPhone. We’ve seen Google Stadia, Project xCloud, and others burst onto the scene making it possible to play AAA titles right from your iPhone.
GeForce Now comes from NVIDIA, the popular pc part maker, and has a few extra tricks up its sleeve compared to the competition. GeForce Now is a cloud-based game streaming service, providing gameplay from the cloud to just about every device you could want to play on.
While GeForce Now already has a sizable library of games to choose from, you have the added benefit of syncing your library of games. This makes it possible for you to either buy games, or play your previously-purchased games, from anywhere. But the best part is that you don’t have to have a PC or even a computer in order to play those games.
How To Play Fortnite on iPhone and iPad
Unfortunately, playing Fortnite on iPhone or iPad isn’t as simply as just firing up the app. Instead, you’ll need to first sign up for the NVIDIA GeForce Now beta program before you’ll be able to play. Here’s how you can do so:
If you don’t have an account already, create one following the on-screen prompts.
Those who already have a GeForce Now account can just sign in.
Click the link here to register for the Fortnite Closed Beta through GeForce Now.
Once completed, navigate to play.geforcenow.com from Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
Follow the prompts to add a home screen shortcut for GeForce Now.
Now that you have registered for the Fortnite Closed Beta program, the next step is the most boring. NVIDIA and Epic Games are rolling out access to the Fortnite beta in waves, meaning that you’ll need to wait until the email arrives for the beta program. Once the invitation arrives, you’ll be able to fire up Fortnite through the GeForce app on your iPhone or iPad.
One thing that is recommended for users to do is to link their Epic Games account with NVIDIA’s account. This will make things easier when it comes to syncing your progress across multiple devices, even those that are included in this beta program. Here’s how you can link your Epic Games account with NVIDIA:
Open the GeForce Now app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Settings.
Select Connections.
From the list of options, locate and select Epic Games.
Sign in to your Epic Games account.
After this is been completed, your Epic Games and GeForce Now accounts will be linked and all of your progress will be synced. Plus, you’ll only need to sign in once to the Epic Games account after you have been accepted to the beta program, making for a smoother experience.
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
Hi am going to play fortnite for free