Android App Store Wars: Epic’s Latest Move

The tech industry is witnessing a heated battle for dominance in the app store space. Epic Games, the publisher behind Fortnite, has launched a lawsuit against Samsung and Google, alleging that they are conspiring to restrict competition and maintain their respective market shares. The lawsuit centers around the Auto Blocker setting in Samsung’s OneUI, which restricts users from sideloading apps from alternative stores, including the Epic Games Store.In its lawsuit, Epic highlights how Samsung and Google have been working together to stifle competition and maintain their dominance. Epic claims that Samsung’s latest OneUI update, which blocks app sideloading by default on new devices, is a deliberate attempt to restrict users from accessing the Epic Games Store and other alternative app stores. The company argues that this move is a clear violation of antitrust laws and will hinder innovation and competition in the market. The lawsuit also points out that Samsung devices are the largest market share for Android phones in the US, giving the company significant influence over the market. Epic claims that Google and Samsung are colluding to maintain their respective market shares and stifle competition, which will ultimately harm consumers.