Epic Video games has accused Samsung of constructing it too troublesome to obtain its massively widespread online game Fortnite on sure cellular gadgets.
In a authorized criticism it mentioned it will file on Monday, it says folks should undergo “21 steps” earlier than they’ll play the sport on a brand new Samsung product, together with viewing safety warning screens and altering settings.
Epic claims this implies 50% of people that attempt to set up the sport on these gadgets hand over earlier than they full the method.
Samsung mentioned it will “vigorously contest” the “baseless claims”.
In accordance with Epic, the method takes 12 steps, quite than 21, for different Android telephones and tablets.
The agency has blamed a Samsung characteristic referred to as Auto Blocker for the problem, which is turned on by default on the producer’s newest merchandise.
The software is meant to dam “malicious exercise” and stop app installations from unauthorised sources.
Epic claims Auto Blocker is affecting Fortnite downloads, and says that goes towards competitors legal guidelines.
Samsung has denied the allegations and mentioned customers can disable Auto Blocker in the event that they select.
“Opposite to Epic Recreation’s assertions, Samsung actively fosters market competitors, enhances client alternative, and conducts its operations pretty,” it mentioned.
“The options built-in into our gadgets are designed in accordance with Samsung’s core ideas of safety, privateness, and person management, and we stay absolutely dedicated to safeguarding customers’ private information.”
Apps on Samsung or Google’s shops will be downloaded in simply a few clicks, because the corporations have already accepted them.
However Fortnite have to be downloaded from Epic’s personal retailer – which triggers Samsung’s Auto Blocker characteristic to kick in with warnings about it.
Epic claims each Google and Samsung know Fortnite is a official app, and so there shouldn’t be any warnings flagged.
That’s as a result of it was once out there on Google Play – the official app retailer for Android-powered telephones – and Samsung has even beforehand collaborated with it, operating Fortnite competitions and creating digital skins for the sport’s characters.
The BBC has approached Google for remark.
Fortnite’s developer has beforehand taken Google and Apple to courtroom over disagreements about the best way the tech corporations function their app shops.
The sport returned to EU-registered iPhones in August after Apple was ordered to open up its app market, but it surely nonetheless cannot be performed on iOS within the UK.
Epic boss Tim Sweeney mentioned he was “very unhappy” to be initiating extra authorized motion.
“The struggle towards Samsung… is new, and it actually sucks,” he mentioned.
“I didn’t suppose we might find yourself on this place.”
He claimed Epic would have “made much more cash” had it chosen to not pursue its earlier authorized motion, however mentioned he needed to create a “really degree enjoying discipline” for builders.
The sport developer says it needs Samsung to introduce a course of by which all official third-party app builders can apply to be whitelisted from Auto Blocker however is has been unable to achieve an settlement.
Fortnite was faraway from Apple and Google’s app shops in 2020 after Epic launched its personal in-app funds system.
And the developer gained a prolonged courtroom battle towards Google over app retailer dominance in December 2023, with a jury deciding that Google had been working a monopoly.
