Over a month after Fortnite made its triumphant return to Android (worldwide) and iOS (in Europe) by way of the Epic Video games Retailer, Epic is submitting a brand new lawsuit in opposition to Google and Samsung within the Northern District of California. The brand new antitrust lawsuit alleges a coordinated effort between Google and Samsung to undermine third-party app shops just like the Epic Video games Retailer by way of Samsung’s “Auto Blocker” setting.
That function was the primary purpose why Epic eliminated its total recreation library from the Galaxy Retailer again in July. Auto Blocker restricts gadgets operating One UI 6.1.1 and up from sideloading third-party apps or app shops by default.
Samsung Auto Blocker function
Customers can bypass the restriction by toggling Auto Blocker off within the settings menu however that requires a number of steps. Epic claims that turning off the function is a 21-step course of which it believes will discourage most customers from making an attempt to sideload third-party app shops.
21 steps required to put in Epic Video games Retailer on Samsung gadgets
Extra importantly, Epic claims that Auto Blocker undermines the Epic v. Google court docket ruling from December 2023. That ruling decided that Google holds monopoly energy within the Android app distribution market and that Google has a historical past of financially compensating OEMs like Samsung to chorus from competing with its Play Retailer.
We are able to anticipate each Google and Samsung to attraction Epic’s new submitting that means that this authorized course of will doubtless stretch out for the foreseeable future.
