Fortnite banned from Samsung phones due to sideloading restrictions — but Epic Games has a solution
Fortnite will no longer be available on the Samsung Galaxy Store after Epic Games announced it would be removing its games from “mobile stores that serve as rent collectors without competing robustly and serving all developers fairly.” The move stems from the fallout of the Epic v Google lawsuit, where Samsung allegedly received anti-competitive proposals from Google. The decision also stems from Samsung’s Auto Blocker tool, a security feature that prevents sideloading apps, which Epic sees as a threat to the free market.
While Fortnite is also unavailable on the Google Play Store, it’s important to note that the ban affects the Galaxy Store, not the main app marketplace on Samsung phones.
Epic Games also revealed plans to distribute Fortnite on three third-party app stores on iOS in the EU, including AltStore, as well as the main EU App Store.Additionally, the developer announced they’ll release the standalone Epic Games Store as an app on both iOS and Android, establishing its own payment processing fees.
While Samsung users might be inconvenienced by the lack of downloads and updates on the Galaxy Store, Epic’s plan to launch its own app store paves the way for alternative access. This move signifies the broader implications of Epic’s antitrust victories against Google and Apple, which are increasingly being challenged for their control over their ecosystems. The EU’s Digital Markets Act is a prime example, mandating Apple to allow third-party app stores and emulators on iOS for the first time.