Epic Games dropped its lawsuit against Samsung just before the company’s Unpacked event

Epic Games Inc. has dropped its antitrust claims against Samsung Electronics Co., just days before the smartphone giant unveils its next flagship devices at its Samsung Unpacked event. 

The surprise dismissal ends a legal battle in which the video gaming company accused Samsung of conspiring with Alphabet Inc.’s Google to suppress third-party app stores, including the video firm’s own.

In a court filing on Monday, the company formally dismissed its claims against Samsung while continuing its case against Google. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed the move in a post on X, stating, “We are grateful that Samsung will address Epic’s concerns,” said Epic CEO Tim Sweeney in a post on X without further details.

A spokesperson for Epic declined to comment further, while Samsung pointed to Sweeney’s post. Google representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Auto Blocker feature was at the center of the dispute

At the heart of the lawsuit was Samsung’s controversial “Auto Blocker” feature, enabled by default on Android phones, which automatically prevented users from installing apps from sources not explicitly authorized by Samsung. The video gaming firm alleged this blocked access to competing marketplaces like the Epic Games Store, violating antitrust laws.

In September 2023, Sweeney suggested two ways Samsung could resolve the video firm’s concerns: Turn Auto Blocker off by default or create an honest whitelisting process that wouldn’t unfairly filter out legitimate third-party app stores.

The video game firm has not confirmed whether Samsung agreed to either solution. “Nothing more to share beyond the filing/X post,” said Elka Looks, Epic’s senior director of communications, when asked for comment.

Settlement sparks speculation ahead of Samsung’s unpacked event

The timing of the settlement has raised eyebrows, 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 signal a broader shift in app store openness.

However, any special treatment exclusive to the video game firm may not satisfy Sweeney’s broader goal. He’s repeatedly emphasized that the company’s legal battles are fought for its benefit and 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 is still 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 the company appeals to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Meanwhile, the video game firm has continued to push forward with its mobile store ambitions, working to get the Epic Games Store preinstalled on more Android phones globally, despite user reliance on default app stores like Google Play and Samsung Galaxy Store.

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