GameNative Adds Epic Games Store Support: Major Expansion for Android Handheld Gaming

Android handhelds like the Retroid Pocket 5 have evolved beyond retro emulation, increasingly supporting PC games through specialized apps. GameNative, a key player alongside alternatives like GameHub and Winlator, has significantly expanded its capabilities with version 0.7.1. This update introduces official support for the Epic Games Store, opening access to thousands of additional titles for compatible devices.

Developed through community contribution by GitHub user @phobos665, this integration addresses a major limitation. Previously, GameNative only supported Steam libraries, leaving Epic's catalog—notable for its frequent free game offerings—inaccessible. The addition positions GameNative competitively against alternatives, offering broader store compatibility than GameHub while maintaining a more streamlined interface than Winlator's virtual machine approach.

Setting up Epic Games access is straightforward:

1. Update to GameNative 0.7.1 via the GitHub release page
2. Tap your profile icon > Settings
3. Select "Epic Games Integration"
4. Tap "Open Epic Login" and sign in via browser
5. Copy the authorization code and paste it into GameNative
6. Confirm "Login Successful" to sync your library

Beyond Epic support, version 0.7.1 adds several practical enhancements:

• New Turnip drivers: Optimized for Snapdragon 8 Elite devices (like the AYN Odin 2), improving Vulkan compatibility
• Dual-screen support: Enables secondary display functionality on clamshell devices
• Graceful game closing: Adds reliable exit methods to prevent background resource drain
• Drive mounting: Lets users add external storage for larger game libraries

Hardware compatibility remains focused on higher-end Android handhelds. Devices like the $249 Retroid Pocket 5 with Snapdragon 888 or Dimensity 1200 chipsets deliver the necessary performance. For users who've accumulated free Epic titles like Control or Borderlands 3, this update effectively unlocks a pre-built library without additional purchases.

Performance testing shows lightweight Epic titles like Celeste running at 60 FPS on mid-range hardware, though demanding games require GPU driver tuning via Turnip. Steam still offers broader controller customization, but GameNative's simplified setup reduces friction for casual users.

This expansion signals Android's growing viability as a PC gaming platform. With Epic's library accessible on portable hardware, GameNative reduces dependency on streaming services or expensive Windows handhelds. The update is particularly valuable for budget-conscious gamers leveraging Epic's free offerings, transforming devices like the Retroid Pocket 5 into versatile gaming hubs.