Epic Games Accuses Samsung of Making Fortnite Download Process Too Difficult
Epic Games, the developer behind the massively popular video game Fortnite, has accused Samsung of creating unnecessary obstacles for players trying to download the game on certain mobile devices. In a legal complaint set to be filed on Monday, Epic claims that Samsung’s latest products require users to go through a cumbersome “21-step” process before they can play Fortnite, causing 50% of people to give up before completing the download.
The issue stems from a Samsung feature called Auto Blocker, which is designed to prevent malicious activity and unauthorized app installations. However, Epic argues that Auto Blocker is hindering legitimate downloads of Fortnite and violating competition laws. While apps on Samsung and Google’s official stores can be downloaded with just a few clicks, Fortnite must be downloaded from Epic’s own store, triggering the Auto Blocker feature and causing unnecessary warnings.
Epic points out that both Google and Samsung are aware that Fortnite is a legitimate app, as it was previously available on Google Play and Samsung has even collaborated with the game in the past. Despite this, the Auto Blocker feature continues to flag warnings about Fortnite, creating a barrier for players trying to access the game.
This is not the first time Epic has taken legal action against tech giants over app store policies. The developer previously sued Google and Apple over disagreements about their app store operations. While Fortnite has returned to EU-registered iPhones following a court order against Apple, it remains unavailable on iOS in the UK.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney expressed disappointment in having to take legal action against Samsung, stating that he had hoped to avoid further litigation. However, he emphasized the importance of creating a fair playing field for developers and ensuring that legitimate apps like Fortnite are not unfairly blocked by security features.
Epic is calling on Samsung to implement a process for whitelisting legitimate third-party app developers from the Auto Blocker feature, but so far, no agreement has been reached. The developer’s ongoing battle with tech giants highlights the challenges faced by app developers in navigating the complex landscape of app stores and security features.
