Epic Games and Samsung Antitrust Case Settled

Epic Games and Samsung Reach Settlement in Antitrust Dispute

Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, has reached a settlement with Samsung regarding its antitrust lawsuit. A court filing confirms the resolution of the case, which was initially brought forth last September.

Allegations of Anti-Competitive Practices

The lawsuit centered around accusations that Samsung collaborated with Google to pre-emptively restrict access to competing app stores on Samsung mobile devices.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced the dismissal of the case via a post on X, stating, “We are grateful that Samsung will address Epic’s concerns.”

Further details from Epic were not provided, with a spokesperson directing inquiries to Sweeney’s statement. Neither Samsung nor Google responded to requests for comment from TechCrunch.

The "Auto Blocker" Feature

Epic’s complaint specifically targeted Samsung’s “Auto Blocker” functionality. This feature prevented app downloads from sources outside of the Google Play Store and the Samsung Galaxy Store.

Epic argued that this was a deliberate strategy to stifle competition within the app distribution landscape.

Previous Statements from Google and Samsung

Upon the filing of the lawsuit, Google dismissed Epic’s claims as lacking merit. They asserted that Android device manufacturers retain the autonomy to prioritize user safety and security.

Samsung, at the time, indicated its intention to strongly defend against what it characterized as unfounded allegations from Epic Games.

Epic's Mobile App Store Launch

This settlement arrives nearly a year after Epic introduced its own mobile application store. This store is designed to distribute both Epic’s own games and applications from third-party developers.

Prior Antitrust Victory Against Google

Prior to the Samsung lawsuit, Epic secured an antitrust victory against Google in 2023. The court found that Google’s app store policies constituted an unlawful monopoly.

The judge mandated that Google open its app store to alternative platforms, although Google’s appeal of this decision is currently pending a ruling.