Epic Games, creator of Fortnite, is taking on tech titans Google and Samsung in a legal showdown over app store competition 🌐. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco federal court, accuses the companies of teaming up to block third-party app stores on Samsung devices through a feature called Auto Blocker—a move Epic claims stifles innovation and hurts consumers.
What’s the Beef? 🤔
Samsung’s Auto Blocker, enabled by default, restricts app installations to official stores like Google Play and the Samsung Galaxy Store. While Samsung says the tool prevents malware, Epic argues it \"entrenches Google's dominance\" in the Android app market. \"Literally no store can compete when disadvantaged this way,\" Epic CEO Tim Sweeney posted on X.
The 21-Step Drama 🕹️
Epic claims downloading its app store now requires a 21-step process due to Auto Blocker and Google/Samsung roadblocks. Samsung counters that users can disable the feature in settings (they say it’s 4 steps 👀), but Epic insists the tech giants are \"negating competition\" after Epic’s 2023 antitrust win against Google.
The Bigger Picture 🌍
This case could reshape how apps are distributed on Android devices worldwide. With Epic’s EU iOS store launch this year and global Android expansion, the gaming giant is pushing hard against what it calls \"anti-competitive barriers\"—a battle that could impact developers and smartphone users alike. Stay tuned! ⚖️
