Epic Games, the developer of the popular game Fortnite, has filed a lawsuit against Google and Samsung. The lawsuit claims that the both the company have coordinated to eliminate competition in app distribution on Samsung devices. This is not the first time Epic Games is battling with Google, they had previously sued the company for similar issues.
What is the Lawsuit All About?
Epic Games alleges that Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature, which prevents users from installing apps from sources other than Google Play Store and Samsung Galaxy Store, was intentionally designed in collaboration with Google. According to Epic Games, it aims to preemptively undermine the U.S. District Court's previous ruling in a case involving Google. The court had found Google's app store practices, including agreements with phone manufacturers like Samsung, to be illegal. Samsung introduced the Auto Blocker feature in October 2023 as an opt-in option. But by mid of this year, it became a default setting. which made it harder for users to download apps from third-party sources. Epic argues that this is limiting consumer choice, and ultimately benefits Google financially at the expense of app developers and consumers. “The shady handshake deals proposed by senior Google executives to Samsung were designed to enrich Google’s bottom line by disadvantaging competition,” Epic argued in its legal filing. The game developer is now asking the court to force Samsung to remove the Auto Blocker by default and to prevent any further anti-competitive practices.
Previous Legal Battles
The company has previously locked horns with Apple and Google, accusing both of monopolistic practices in their app stores. The latest lawsuit adds Samsung to the same, further escalating the battle for app distribution freedom on Android devices. In its latest filing, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney emphasized that this case is about more than just app stores. “It’s about unfair competition by misleading users into thinking competitors’ products are inferior to the company's own products,” Sweeney said, pointing out that Google had previously distributed Fortnite on its platform.
Samsung's Response
Samsung, however, has pushed back on Epic’s claims. The company stated that the Auto Blocker feature is part of its efforts to ensure user security and privacy. In a statement, Samsung declared, “Our features are designed to protect users and safeguard personal data. We will vigorously contest these baseless claims.” Samsung also stated that users have the option to disable Auto Blocker if they wish, emphasizing that they remain committed to giving users control over their devices.
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