They’re both silent on what, if anything, has changed<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Epic Games has settled the case it brought against Samsung over the Korean giant\u2019s treatment of third-party app stores on its Galaxy handsets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The games developer launched the case in 2024, as an extension of its multi-headed case that claimed Google unlawfully uses its Play Store to control the channels through which software vendors can distribute their wares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Analyst firm IDC rates Samsung the planet\u2019s most prolific producer of smartphones running Android, having shipped 223.4 million of them in 2024 to earn 18 percent of the smartphone market. Most of Samsung\u2019s handsets ship with the Galaxy Store app, the Korean giant\u2019s own app store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Epic\u2019s suit noted that the Galaxy Store is installed on millions of devices, yet drives just one percent of app sales, and alleged Samsung and Google have a cozy relationship that sees the Korean giant de-emphasize the Galaxy Store to help the search giant dominate app sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suit also noted that in 2019 Samsung agreed to sell Epic\u2019s hit game Fortnite on the Galaxy Store, even though it was not sold on the Play Store. Epic alleges Google then \u201coffered Samsung a revenue-sharing deal whereby Samsung would forego the independent operation of its Galaxy Store in exchange for hundreds of millions of dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another issue Epic raised was a feature called \u201cAuto Blocker\u201d that Samsung installed on some phones, and which made it devilishly hard to install apps from sources other than Google Play or Galaxy Store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As it has done in other cases, Epic sought remedies that would allow smartphone owners to deal with it directly instead of through an app store. Doing so would mean Epic could avoid paying the hefty fees app stores charge as commission on each sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The docket for the case lists 96 filings since Epic opened the case on September 30th, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday the United States District Court for Northern California published two more: An amended claim, and a notice of voluntary dismissal [PDF] regarding Auto-Blocker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney used his X account to say \u201cWe\u2019re dismissing our court case against Samsung following the parties\u2019 discussions. We are grateful that Samsung will address Epic\u2019s concerns.\u201d Sweeney did not explain what, if anything, Samsung will change, and Samsung\u2019s stayed schtum, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Register fancies Samsung may reveal all later this week, when it launches a new range of folding smartphones \u2013 perhaps running Epic\u2019s products on their extra-large screens and\/or with tweaks that allow easier access to third party app stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Google and Apple remain involved in several cases that seek to loosen their control over their respective app stores, and regulators around the world are also seeking the same outcome. \u00ae<\/p>\n\n\n\n