- Epic Games is suing Google and Samsung over Samsung’s “Auto Blocker” feature, accusing them of conspiring to stifle competition from third-party app stores.
- The lawsuit claims Samsung’s Auto Blocker, enabled by default on new phones, makes it nearly impossible for users to install apps from non-Google or Samsung sources.
- Epic argues that Samsung’s Auto Blocker is not truly designed for security but rather to hinder rival app stores, like Epic’s new Epic Games Store.
Four years after its original lawsuit against Google, Epic Games is back in court, this time with a new antitrust lawsuit that also targets Samsung. Epic accuses the tech giants of conspiring to undermine competition, specifically with Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature. Enabled by default on new Samsung phones, this feature prevents users from installing apps unless they come from “authorized” sources—namely, Google Play and the Samsung App Store. Epic argues this is a deliberate strategy to block third-party app stores like its own.
The timing of the lawsuit raises questions, as Samsung’s Auto Blocker was made more aggressive just a month before Epic launched the Epic Games Store on Android and iPhones. Epic alleges that Samsung made it nearly impossible for users to install rival stores, requiring a convoluted 21-step process to bypass the blocker, though Epic’s site suggests it’s a four-step procedure. The company contends this complexity discourages users from downloading third-party apps, giving Google and Samsung an unfair advantage.
Samsung and Google both deny any wrongdoing. Samsung insists that the Auto Blocker is intended for user safety and can be easily turned off during the phone’s setup. Google, on the other hand, emphasizes that it had no involvement in the creation of Auto Blocker and stresses the real risks of sideloading apps. Both companies remain firm in their stance that Epic’s lawsuit is without merit.
Epic’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, is framing this battle as a fight for all app developers, not just his own company. He claims that while he hasn’t found direct evidence of collusion between Google and Samsung, he hopes the discovery process will uncover more details, just as it did in the original Epic v. Google case. The company is seeking a jury trial to challenge the restrictions on third-party app stores.
While the outcome of this case remains uncertain, the decision could have broader implications for the app ecosystem, especially if the courts rule in favor of Epic. In the meantime, Epic is positioning itself as the champion of competition, but whether it can prove its claims remains to be seen.
