Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, has officially ended its legal fight with Samsung.
The lawsuit, filed in late 2023, accused Samsung of making it harder for users to download apps from rival stores. But now, both companies have agreed to move forward — and Epic is dropping the case.
What Was the Lawsuit About?
Epic claimed Samsung was working with Google to block competition in the app store space. The main issue? A Samsung feature called “Auto Blocker”.
According to Epic, this feature made it difficult for users to install apps that weren’t from the Google Play Store or the Samsung Galaxy Store.
In other words, Epic believed Samsung was helping Google limit other app stores — including Epic’s own mobile store, which launched last year.
Epic’s CEO Shares the News
Tim Sweeney, Epic’s CEO, made the announcement in a post on X (formerly Twitter):
“We’re dismissing our court case against Samsung following the parties’ discussions. We are grateful that Samsung will address Epic’s concerns.”
He didn’t go into detail about what was agreed on, but the message was clear — the two sides have worked things out behind the scenes.
No Comment from Samsung or Google
Epic didn’t share more beyond Sweeney’s post. A company spokesperson said they had nothing to add.
Samsung and Google, meanwhile, haven’t responded publicly.
When the lawsuit was originally filed, both companies denied any wrongdoing:
- Google called the claims “meritless.”
- Samsung said it would fight what it described as “baseless” accusations.
Bigger Picture: Epic Wants Open App Stores
This settlement is part of a larger story.
Epic has been trying to break down barriers in mobile app distribution. They want to make it easier for users — and developers — to choose where and how they get their apps.
Just before suing Samsung, Epic won a major antitrust case against Google. A jury ruled that Google was unfairly locking down its app store. That decision is still under appeal, but it sent a message: things are changing in the mobile world.
So, What’s Next?
We don’t know the exact terms of the deal between Epic and Samsung. But based on Sweeney’s post, it sounds like Samsung may be making changes that allow more freedom around installing apps.
That would be a win for Epic, which is still trying to grow its own mobile game store and reach users directly — without relying on Google or Samsung’s platforms.
Quick Recap
- Epic sued Samsung last year over claims of unfair app store restrictions.
- The two companies have now settled, and Epic has dropped the case.
- The dispute centered on Samsung’s “Auto Blocker” feature, which Epic said limited rival app stores.
- This follows Epic’s earlier win against Google in a similar legal fight.
- Epic is pushing for a more open app ecosystem, where users have more choice.
Final Thought
While the legal drama is over (for now), this story is part of a bigger shift in tech. Companies like Epic are pushing back against how app stores work — and trying to open doors for more options, better competition, and fairer access.
Whether or not Samsung changes anything publicly, Epic is clearly making progress in its mission to change how mobile apps are distributed.