Just over a month after Fortnite made its triumphant return to Android (globally) and iOS (in Europe) via the Epic games storeEpic files a new lawsuit against Google and Samsung in the Northern District of California. The new antitrust lawsuit alleges a coordinated effort between Google and Samsung to undermine third-party app stores, such as the Epic Games Store, through Samsung’s “Auto Blocker” setting.
That feature was the main reason why Epic removed the entire game library from the Galaxy Store back in July. Auto Blocker prevents devices running One UI 6.1.1 and later from sideloading third-party apps or app stores by default.
Samsung Auto Blocker feature
Users can bypass the restriction by disabling Auto Blocker in the settings menu, but this requires several steps. Epic claims that disabling the feature is a 21-step process that it believes will discourage most users from sideloading third-party app stores.
21 steps required to install Epic Games Store on Samsung devices
More importantly, Epic claims that Auto Blocker undermines Epic v. Google court ruling starting December 2023. That ruling determined that Google has a monopoly on the Android app distribution market and that Google has a history of financially compensating OEMs like Samsung not to compete with its Play Store.
We can expect both Google and Samsung to appeal Epic’s new filing, meaning this legal process will likely continue for the foreseeable future.