Epic Games, the game developer behind the smash hit Fortnite, isn’t cooling down after its legal victory against Google. CEO Tim Sweeney took to X (formerly Twitter) yesterday, unleashing a fiery critique of the $700 million settlement Google reached with state attorneys general in its separate antitrust lawsuit.
Sweeney, who led Epic to a unanimous jury verdict against the tech giant just weeks ago, lambasted the deal as “an injustice to all Android users and developers.” He accused Google of intentionally using “misleading and anticompetitive scare screens” to disadvantage competing app stores and direct downloads, tactics he claims the settlement “endorses.”
Sweeney’s ire stems from several points. He criticized the settlement amount as insufficient, arguing it pales in comparison to the billions Google allegedly collected through its 30% app store fee. Additionally, he expressed concern that the agreed-upon changes to Google’s app store practices fall short of what’s needed to create a truly fair and competitive market.
The five-year settlement, while not finalized, outlines several concessions by Google. These include:
- Allowing alternative payment systems within apps.
- Providing more transparency into app store fees and policies.
- Easing restrictions on app sideloading and competition from other app stores.
While the settlement resolves Google’s legal battle with state attorneys general, Epic’s lawsuit remains separate and ongoing. Sweeney has vowed to continue fighting for a complete overhaul of Google’s app store practices, potentially paving the way for a broader industry shake-up.
