• Epic's Second Antitrust Lawsuits: Four years after winning a lawsuit against Google for an illegal app store monopoly, Epic is suing again. It has filed a second antitrust lawsuit against Google and now additionally Samsung, accusing them of illegally conspiring to undermine third-party app stores.
• Samsung's "Auto Blocker" Feature: The lawsuit focuses on Samsung's "Auto Blocker" feature that comes on by default on new Samsung phones. It automatically prevents users from installing apps from sources other than Google and Samsung's app stores, and Epic claims there's no process for rival stores to become authorized.
• Epic's Own Mobile App Store: In August 2020, Epic filed original lawsuits against Google and Apple without its own mobile app store. But in August 2024, it launched the Epic Games Store on Android globally and on iPhones in the European Union where the EU Digital Markets Act forced Apple to allow alternate stores.
• Samsung's Decision and Impact: A month before launching its own store, Epic alleges that Samsung suddenly made Auto Blocker more on by default, making it harder for new phone buyers to install competing apps. Epic claims it requires a 21-step process to download a third-party app store on a Samsung phone, and it's hard to turn off Auto Blocker with unclear instructions.
• Epic CEO's Views: Epic CEO Tim Sweeney says Auto Blocker is not designed to protect against malware but to prevent competition. He privately asked Samsung to change Auto Blocker or create a whitelisting process but they couldn't agree.
• Google and Samsung's Positions: Google denies colluding with Samsung and says it didn't request the Auto Blocker feature. Google offers its own safety features like Google Play Protect. Samsung points out that users can choose to disable Auto Blocker and that it doesn't secretly turn it on.
• Impact and Future: It's not clear if Epic has been harmed by Auto Blocker as only two new Samsung phones have shipped since it was turned on by default. Epic is asking for a jury trial and is positioning today's lawsuit as a way to prevent Google and partners from pursuing a "malicious compliance strategy." Judge James Donato is expected to issue a final order in the Epic v. Google case, which could affect the Epic v. Samsung case.