Epic Games Sues Samsung Over Fortnite Downloads

Epic Games has filed a lawsuit against Samsung and Google, claiming that the default 'Auto Blocker' feature on Samsung devices makes it excessively complicated for users to download its popular game, Fortnite. Allegedly requiring 21 steps, including modifying settings and bypassing security warnings, Epic asserts that this process leads to a 50% abandonment rate among users. The company argues that this violates U.S. antitrust laws by reducing consumer choice and blocking competition, as Fortnite must be downloaded from Epic’s store instead of the more accessible Google Play Store. Samsung has called the claims 'baseless' and stated that users can disable the Auto Blocker if they choose, defending the feature as a security measure. This lawsuit follows a previous antitrust victory for Epic against Google regarding app store practices, and the company seeks damages and an injunction against Samsung and Google to restore market competition. Both companies have denied the allegations and intend to contest the lawsuit vigorously.