Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, has accused Samsung of making it excessively difficult for users to download the game on certain mobile devices. The legal complaint, which Epic announced it would file on Monday, claims that users have to go through 21 steps before they can play Fortnite on new Samsung products. These steps include viewing security warnings and changing device settings, causing many users to abandon the process.
The Installation Challenge
Epic claims that 50% of users trying to install Fortnite on Samsung devices give up due to this lengthy process. The company points to Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature, designed to block apps from unauthorized sources, as the root cause of the issue. Auto Blocker is enabled by default on Samsung’s latest devices and, according to Epic, unfairly targets Fortnite downloads. Epic argues that this violates competition laws, as it places Fortnite at a disadvantage compared to apps from Google Play or Samsung’s store, which can be installed with just a couple of clicks.
Samsung Responds
Samsung has strongly denied these allegations, calling them “baseless” and stating that its Auto Blocker tool is intended to protect users from malicious activity, not stifle competition. “Contrary to Epic’s assertions, Samsung actively fosters market competition, enhances consumer choice, and conducts its operations fairly,” a spokesperson for the company said. Samsung also noted that users can disable Auto Blocker if they choose.
The Bigger Picture: Google and App Stores
Epic claims both Google and Samsung are aware that Fortnite is a legitimate app, given that it was previously available on Google Play and that Samsung has collaborated with Epic in the past. However, Google has distanced itself from the situation, stating it had no part in Samsung’s decision to develop Auto Blocker.
Google VP of Engineering Dave Kleidermacher emphasized that this lawsuit is about user safety, not app access. He pointed out that governments and security experts have warned about the risks of downloading apps directly from the web. “To make this about access to a game is deliberately misleading,” Kleidermacher said, “this is about user safety.”
Epic’s Legal Battles Continue
Epic’s latest legal challenge follows its ongoing disputes with Google and Apple over their app store practices. Fortnite was removed from both app stores in 2020 after Epic introduced its own in-app payment system. The game has since returned to EU-registered iPhones, but remains unavailable on iOS in the UK.
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic, expressed disappointment at having to take further legal action, stating, “The fight against Samsung… is new, and it really sucks.” However, Sweeney reiterated that the company’s goal is to create a “truly level playing field” for developers.
