Epic Games Teams With Samsung as It Ramps Up Fornite Merch War Against Apple

Epic Games, developer of the video game phenomenon Fortnite, has been feuding with Apple and Google since the game was removed from the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. In the latest escalation of the war, Epic Games teamed up with Samsung to send a Fortnite merch bundle to gaming industry journalists.

Epic Games previously let fans design their own “Free Fortnite” merchandise, some of which included a parody of the retro-colored Apple logo. This kit, shipped directly to recipients, includes official “Free Fortnite” apparel produced by Epic itself.

The studio sent influential journalists and gamers a Samsung Tab S7 with a branded bomber jacket, along with a note explaining that Samsung’s Galaxy Store is the only place where Fortnite is currently available. The actual box features Epic's "Free Fortnite" branding and its rainbow-colored Fortnite llama logo parodying Apple's iconic logo.

#Epic and #Samsung send ’#FreeFortnite’ care package with jacket, Galaxy Tab S7 to influencers https://t.co/mxC9DROOdz pic.twitter.com/7fDXJ7cAOi

— primo4k  (@primo4k) December 21, 2020

Really, it’s as much of a promotion for Samsung as it is Fortnite, but both parties get some nice marketing benefit from it.

😳 #freefortnite pic.twitter.com/HUtZwkO4D1

— Greg Miller (@GameOverGreggy) December 21, 2020

Either way, it’s smart. Samsung gets its product in the hands of reviewers and influencers, Epic Games reminds everyone that Fortnite is still frozen out of major app stores (while painting itself as somewhat of an underdog against the big tech companies) and branded merchandise gets another moment to shine.