Epic Games withdraws lawsuit against Samsung – What does that mean for users?

Epic Games withdraws lawsuit against Samsung – What does that mean for users?

In a surprising turn of events, Epic Games has withdrawn its lawsuit against Samsung. This move came just before the tech giant's highly anticipated Unpacked event and shows that an agreement could be reached despite previous legal disputes. The conflict, which began in September 2023, revolved around Samsung's controversial "Auto Blocker" feature, which prevented apps from unauthorized sources from being installed on their devices. Epic Games viewed this feature as a barrier to competition, especially for alternative app marketplaces such as its own Epic Games Store. According to stadt-bremerhaven.de, the company argued that Samsung was entering into defamatory agreements with Google to restrict competition.

The terms set out in the agreement remain vague, but Epic CEO Tim Sweeney expressed gratitude for resolving the concerns raised. One of two options could be considered to address the challenges: either the auto blocker is deactivated by default, or a transparent whitelisting process is introduced that allows legitimate apps to get onto the devices. However, Epic Games has not yet specified the exact procedure, and Samsung has so far remained silent in response to a request for comment, as theverge.com reports.

Technological background information

It is not surprising that the dispute between Epic and Samsung comes in the context of the increasingly competitive app market. This is currently further influenced by the European Union's upcoming “Digital Markets Act” (DMA), which comes into force on March 7, 2024. This policy aims to create a fairer competitive environment and reduce the control of large platforms. Companies like Apple and Google are therefore under pressure to revise their policies and give third parties more space. For example, Apple must allow the installation of apps from sources other than the App Store, which is of particular interest to developers like Epic, as tagesschau.de notes.

The impact of the DMA may also have played a role in the agreement between Epic Games and Samsung. If Samsung creates clearer conditions for installing third-party apps, this could not only make the Epic Games Store app's own market access easier, but also ensure wider acceptance among users who want more choice.

The cycle of competition in the digital industry remains exciting. While Samsung may now be aiming for more flexible handling of the Auto Blocker, such developments are consistent with the goals of the DMA. In addition, Epic's lawsuit against Google remains on the agenda, which shows that the fight for developers' rights and their market opportunities is far from over. It remains to be seen whether Samsung will make any official announcements on this topic during the Unpacked event.