Epic Games Wins Google Lawsuit

Epic Games has achieved a significant victory in its legal battle against Google, with a jury unanimously declaring that Google turned its Play Store and Google Play Billing into an illegal monopoly.

This decision marks a major win for Epic Games, particularly in light of their previous loss against Apple in a similar lawsuit back in 2021.

Epic Games Wins Google Lawsuit

The case, which was initiated by Epic Games in 2020, revolved around the allegation that Google’s practices with its Play Store and billing services were anticompetitive. Epic Games argued that Google had engaged in actions to impede competition, which included striking secret deals with phone manufacturers and game developers to suppress other app stores.

One of the key outcomes of this victory for Epic Games is the potential to bypass Google’s billing services. This means that Epic Games could sell in-game items, such as V-Bucks in Fortnite, directly to players without having to pay a fee to Google. This practice was first attempted by Epic in 2020 and resulted in Fortnite being removed from the Play Store.

Furthermore, this ruling could have broader implications in the gaming industry. Other game developers might also be able to avoid Google’s billing service fees and explore alternative billing options. This could lead to a diversification of app stores on Android devices, offering more choices to both developers and consumers.

the jury in Epic v. Google has just delivered its verdict. It found that Google turned its Google Play App Store and Google Play Billing service into an illegal monopoly https://t.co/VkkhoK7lzr

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) December 12, 2023

While Epic has won this legal battle, the situation is not entirely resolved

Google has expressed its intention to appeal the verdict. Additionally, the court has yet to decide on the specific outcomes and any required actions for Google as a result of this verdict. These details are expected to be addressed in upcoming hearings scheduled for the second week of January.

Epic Games, in their statement, highlighted the importance of this victory not just for themselves but for all app developers and consumers globally. They emphasized the need for legislation and regulation to address the monopolistic behavior of major tech companies like Apple and Google. Epic Games’ victory is seen as a step towards more competition and innovation in the smartphone ecosystem.