Epic Games Sues Samsung & Google Over Anti-Competitive Auto Blocker Feature
Epic Games has filed a lawsuit against Samsung and Google, alleging that Samsung's Auto Blocker feature hinders competition by creating a 21-step installation barrier for the Epic Games Store. Learn more about the legal battle and its implications.
Epic games have taken the court battle with Google and Samsung to a new height by filing a new case that they say tech giants Google and Samsung are also facilitating anti-competitive conducts through Samsung's Auto Blocker feature. This comes after the firm had already filed a case against Google for the happening of Epic vs Google.
A 21-Step Barrier To Entry
The complaint revolves around Samsung's Auto Blocker, a security feature Samsung introduced in 2023 and defaulted left to enable from July 2024. According to Epic, this feature places an insurmountable barrier on users' ability to download the Epic Games Store onto Samsung devices, instead forcing them to endure a painful 21-step installation process. It's the blocking mechanism of installations coming from unauthorised sources, known as the Auto Blocker, which leaves it much more problematic for Epic to offer its games outside Google's ecosystem of Play Store.
Epic argues that Samsung and Google have conspired to kill competition by making it more difficult for consumers to download apps from third-party app stores, including the Epic Games Store, by using this auto-security feature. Epic argues that these moves are harmful to competition and consumer choice and innovation in mobile gaming.
Security vs. Competition
Now, Samsung says that the auto-blocker is an essential security measure blocking the malicious apps and other cyber threats to the users, but Epic maintains that its sweeping application goes beyond security considerations into excessive barriers against competitors. The suit cites the earlier decision in Epic vs Google, where it was ruled that Google had entered into certain agreements which restrained trade in the market for mobile apps by an agreement with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).
The legal team of Epic now turns to the court to intervene and remove this default Auto Blocker to allow open fair competition on Samsung devices. The company claims that this kind of behaviour by the manufacturer violates antitrust laws in every respect, pushing back the very same competition that the court recently ruled in their favour.
What’s Next For Epic, Samsung and Google
This case may have far-reaching implications beyond mobile gaming because of its fallout effects on third-party app stores. Third-party app stores may well include Epic Games Store, so the result of the lawsuit will likely affect the competitive offers of various businesses. In case Epic wins this case, it might well strengthen the other side's argument: that the tech companies must quit controlling security and app-installation processes in Android devices.
The legal battle is set in the courtroom, where the future of the balance between security measures and fair market competition in mobile may become re-written.
