Epic Games reignites Play Store battle, sues both Samsung and Google over sideloading restrictions
Epic Games, the company behind the popular game Fortnite, has once again entered the legal arena to challenge restrictions on app sideloading on Android devices. This time, the lawsuit targets both Samsung and Google, specifically focusing on a new feature in Samsung’s One UI that adds another layer of difficulty to installing apps from sources other than the Google Play Store.
Sideloading, the practice of installing apps from sources other than the official app store, has always been a contentious issue in the mobile world. Apple’s iOS has historically been quite restrictive, only recently allowing sideloading in the European Union, and even then with significant limitations. Android, on the other hand, has traditionally been more open to sideloading, although it still requires users to navigate certain settings to enable it.
The heart of the matter is Samsung’s “Auto-Blocker” feature, which was introduced in 2023 with a set of protections for apps.
