Epic Games Wins Case To Open Up Android Store, But Google Is Appealing

Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite and Unreal Engine, just won a significant antitrust case against Google, meaning the Android mobile store must open up alongside other requirements. However, Google announced it’s already appealing the order.

Google vice president of regulatory affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland detailed why the company is fighting back against the ruling on the Google blog. For starters, Mulholland points out that Epic already lost a similar case to Apple, though CNBC notes that was decided by a judge–Google’s case was decided by a jury. As such, Mulholland writes: “In contrast, the Apple decision, upheld on appeal, rightly found that Android and iOS compete in the same market. This is obvious to anyone who has bought a smartphone.”

On top of this, Mulholland argues Google and Apple fight for app developers. The ruling puts a three-year ban on Google paying developers for exclusive apps, for instance, per CNBC. Last but not least, “Android is open and Google Play is not the only way to get apps,” writes Mulholland. Google highlights that Fortnite is available on Android phones through the Samsung Galaxy store. Interestingly enough, Epic Games is suing Samsung, and Google again, over an autoblocker feature.

Earlier this month, Epic also revealed its plans to launch a free games program for its mobile store. The Fortnite maker continues to fight with Apple, though the Epic Games Store mobile app is available on iOS in the European Union now.