Epic Games and Google have signed a special agreement to develop a new class of apps they call “metaverse browsers,” according to recently leaked documents. The deal is part of a larger, $800 million , six-year partnership that is expected to redefine how users interact with 3D virtual worlds on mobile devices.
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The deal between the two tech giants comes at a time when the term “metaverse” has fallen out of favor in the tech industry. Despite the decline in interest, Epic GamesCEO Tim Sweeneyhas been talking about the metaverse and its future potential for years, viewing it as the next step in the evolution of the internet.
Epic ’s Fortnite is already considered by many analysts to be one of the largest and most successful implementations of the metaverse, depending on how one defines the term. With more than 400 million registered users worldwide, the game has evolved beyond a simple battle royale into a social interaction platform where users attend concerts, participate in events, and create content. This is not the first time that Epic and Google have been linked to the metaverse. In January 2026 , during a court hearing on a secret $800 million Unreal Engine deal , Sweeney revealed that the deal was directly related to the development of metaverse technologies.
What are Metaverse Browsers and how they work
Although the documents are largely redacted for confidentiality reasons, some basic details about the metaverse browsers are visible and reveal an ambitious technological initiative. According to the available evidence from the court documents, the metaverse browsers will:
– Their main purpose is to allow navigation and exploration of metaverse worlds in a manner similar to traditional web browsers
– They support virtual objects and digital identities that can be transferred and used in different worlds within the metaverse browser, creating a unified ecosystem
– They must support modern cybersecurity requirements, including Sandbox capabilities , strict restrictions on code execution, and encrypted secure connections
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The technology infrastructure that will power these revolutionary applications is based on Epic ’s Unreal Engine 5 , one of the most advanced and widely used 3D application development platforms in the world. Unreal Engine is already used by thousands of developers worldwide to develop high-quality games, virtual reality applications and architectural simulations.
This partnership is part of a broader series of significant changes Google to its app stores in response to growing regulatory pressure and antitrust disputes. In an official blog post about Google, Epic Games noted that “Google will take concrete steps to support the future open metaverse.”
The metaverse browsers developed under this partnership will meet strict technical specifications and cybersecurity standards. The applications will incorporate advanced WebGL and WebXR for seamless rendering of 3D graphics in real time. In addition, they will support cross-platform compatibility, allowing users to access the same virtual worlds from different devices and operating systems.
In terms of security, developers who want to develop applications for this platform must follow strict protocols. These include implementing end-to-end encryption for all communications, using secure authentication methods, and adhering to international GDPR for personal data protection.
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For end users, the expected benefits of this partnership include significantly improved Android through deep Unreal Engine, such as better and more realistic Fortnite, more advanced metaverse experiences, and faster response to interactions.
