Epic Games Drops Antitrust Suit Against Samsung Ahead of Unpacked Event

Epic Games Inc. has withdrawn its antitrust lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co. just days before Samsung's highly anticipated Unpacked event, where the company is set to unveil its latest flagship devices. This sudden dismissal brings an end to a legal dispute in which Epic Games accused Samsung of colluding with Alphabet Inc.’s Google to stifle third-party app stores, including its own Epic Games Store.

In a court filing on Monday, Epic Games formally dropped its claims against Samsung while continuing its legal battle against Google. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed this move in a post on X, expressing gratitude that Samsung would address Epic’s concerns, though he did not provide further details. A spokesperson for Epic declined to comment further, while Samsung referred to Sweeney’s post. Google representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The core of the dispute revolved around Samsung’s “Auto Blocker” feature, which is enabled by default on Android phones. This feature automatically prevents users from installing apps from sources not explicitly authorized by Samsung, effectively blocking access to competing marketplaces like the Epic Games Store. Epic Games alleged that this feature violated antitrust laws by unfairly restricting access to third-party app stores.

In September 2023, Sweeney proposed two potential solutions for Samsung to address Epic’s concerns: either turn off the Auto Blocker feature by default or create a fair whitelisting process that would not unfairly filter out legitimate third-party app stores. However, Epic Games has not confirmed whether Samsung agreed to either of these solutions. When asked for comment, Elka Looks, Epic’s senior director of communications, stated that there was nothing more to share beyond the filing and Sweeney’s post.

The timing of this settlement has sparked speculation, as Samsung is just two days away from its Unpacked event, where it is expected to reveal new foldable phones and software innovations. While neither company has confirmed any partnership announcement, some speculate that Samsung could soon begin preloading the Epic Games Store on its devices. Such a move could indicate a broader shift towards greater openness in app store policies.

However, any special treatment exclusive to Epic Games may not fully satisfy Sweeney’s broader goals. He has repeatedly emphasized that Epic’s legal battles are fought not just for the benefit of Epic Games, but for the broader developer ecosystem. “If we’d fought Epic v. Apple and Epic v. Google solely based on Epic getting special privileges… we’d be selling out all developers,” Sweeney said in a 2023 interview.

Epic’s antitrust case against Google remains active. In 2023, a jury unanimously found Google guilty of monopolizing app distribution on Android. A federal judge ordered Google to lift developer restrictions on rival billing systems and marketplaces. However, enforcement of most of that ruling is on hold as Google appeals to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Meanwhile, Epic Games continues to push forward with its mobile store ambitions, working to get the Epic Games Store preinstalled on more Android phones globally, despite users' reliance on default app stores like Google Play and Samsung Galaxy Store. Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event is set for Wednesday, July 9, with expected reveals of the latest phones. The company confirmed the event weeks ago, fueling a wave of online speculation and leaks ahead of what’s shaping up to be a major product launch. People will be on the lookout to link the event with the Epic Games Store. However, that alone may not satisfy Tim Sweeney, who has consistently stated that his legal battles are meant to benefit all developers, not just the video game firm.