So much is revealed when court document are formally unsealed , and in the pillow slip of Epic Games ’ antitrust complaint against Google , we now know that Google considered buying the Fortnite maker in a flash “ squelch this threat . ” Google also apparently set about to convince Epic Games not to limit Fortnite to sideloading on Android devices , as doing so would lead to a poor exploiter experience .
In thecourt filings , which you’re able to download and peruse yourself , Epic cites an internal document where Google called Epic ’s plans a “ contagion ” on its business . The companionship also allege that “ Google use its size , influence , superpower , and money to push third party into anticompetitive agreements that further encroach its monopolies . ”
There is no public documentation indicating Google come near Epic with an offer to purchase the gaming company , nor any exonerated timeline . Epic CEO Tim McSweeney tweeted in response toThe Verge ’s clause on the topic that Google ’s plan was “ unbeknown to us at the time . ”
Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)
Epic also aver that Google propose it a special deal to set up Fortnite in the frolic Store . Though details remain certain and redacted , the text file then discover how aged Google Play managers approached Epic about its plans to limit Android user to sideloading the game .
One coach contact Epic ’s Vice President and Co - Founder to approximate Epic ’s interest in a special deal and , among other thing , discussed “ the experience of getting Fortnite on Android ” via direct downloading . The manager ’s call bank bill state that she viewed verbatim downloading Fortnite as “ candidly abyssal ” and “ an awful experience ” , and that Epic should “ care that most will not go through the 15 + steps ” .
Elsewhere in the written document , there are claim that Google had acknowledged sideloading applications “ contribute to a [ po]or exploiter experience , ” since it takes Android substance abuser more steps than set up an app directly from an authenticated app store . A Google employee even ran through the “ install friction ” that makes direct downloading a “ bad experience ” for exploiter .
Google ’s bits to Epic reads like opinion as to why it should play by the Play Store rules and distribute through it . There ’s even mention of how sideloading would keep drug user from receiving reproducible app update that were necessary for the performance and security of the game , at last resulting in “ significant user disarray . ”
Epic Games issuingApple and Google for removing Fortnite from both app memory after it was ban for using its own in - secret plan payment system of rules . But the case has become a part of a significantstate antitrust lawsuitagainst Google , which argues that its general practices are anticompetitive . The sideloading musical composition is challenging because the power to install apps outside of prescribed app stores is part of what makes Android more unresolved than Apple ’s platform . But if Google is telling app developer that sideloading is awful and pushing them to offer apps in Google Play , well , that ’s not exactly in the emotional state of nakedness . For its part , Google denies the claim and keep that its ecosystem is open to all developer desire to broadcast apps safely through its app stores .
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