In a move that can shake the mobile gaming industry, Fortnite developer Epic Games has won its antitrust trial against Google. The ramifications of this lawsuit could send shockwaves and might force Google to present more fair rules for upcoming mobile games.
Back in 2020, Epic sued Google for creating a monopoly on their mobile ecosystem and ensuring that devs couldn’t make money without going through them (via VGC). Other complaints include Google taking 30% of the mobile revenue, forcing devs to use Google’s billing system, and offering “lucrative deals” to gadget manufacturers so they could block Apple.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney released a statement on Twitter, acknowledging the victory and claiming that attempts to remedy the situation will be done in January. Sweeney was also quick to mention the “Free Fortnite” hashtag that they failed to use on Apple, though they were able to successfully use it against Google, it seems.
“Victory over Google! After 4 weeks of detailed court testimony, the California jury found against the Google Play monopoly on all counts. The Court’s work on remedies will start in January. Thanks for everyone’s support and faith! Free Fortnite!” Sweeney said on Twitter.
For their part, Google claims that they will try to appeal to the judge, so it looks like the courtroom drama isn’t quite over yet. Still, if this verdict sticks, Google will have to change parts of its system with Epic Games and other mobile developers. Whether you like Epic or not, that is a huge win for developers.
It’s a testament to Fortnite’s popularity that the free-to-play shooter is still popular, despite not being on Apple or Google. The game has also garnered plenty of fans thanks to new ventures like LEGO Fortnite, Fortnite Festival, and Rocket Racing. Crossover events are also still huge for the battle royale, recently nabbing rap star Eminem, and Metal Gear protagonist Solid Snake.
Read More: LEGO Fortnite players are already blowing up the World Trade Centre
Epic’s Fortnite is readily available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
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