Epic Games accuses Samsung of blocking Fortnite downloads with security feature

Epic claims Samsung's Auto Blocker feature obstructs Fortnite downloads on certain devices

Epic Games has accused Samsung of deliberately making it difficult for users to download its popular video game, Fortnite, on specific Samsung mobile devices. In a legal complaint expected to be filed on Monday, Epic alleges that the process to download the game involves 21 steps, which includes viewing multiple security warnings and modifying device settings.

According to Epic, this cumbersome process has led to half of the users abandoning the download before completion. The gaming company claims that the primary issue lies with Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature, which is turned on by default in newer Samsung products. Auto Blocker is designed to prevent malicious activities by blocking app installations from unapproved sources, but Epic argues that this feature is unfairly affecting Fortnite downloads and violating competition laws.

Samsung responded by calling the accusations "baseless" and stating that it intends to "vigorously contest" the claims. The company insists that users have the option to disable the Auto Blocker if they choose and maintains that the feature is essential for protecting users' security and privacy.

“Contrary to Epic Games' assertions, Samsung actively fosters market competition, enhances consumer choice, and operates fairly,” said Samsung in a statement. “The features integrated into our devices are designed with security, privacy, and user control in mind.”

Fortnite is not available on Samsung’s or Google’s official app stores, meaning users must download it through Epic’s own store. This process triggers Auto Blocker, causing warnings to appear even though the app is legitimate. Epic claims both Google and Samsung are aware that Fortnite is a secure app and believes there should be no warnings.

Epic’s latest legal battle comes after previous disputes with Google and Apple regarding their app store practices. The company recently won a court case against Google over its alleged app store monopoly. Despite these challenges, Epic remains committed to pushing for a fairer playing field for developers.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney expressed frustration with the ongoing legal issues, stating that while the company could have made more money by avoiding legal battles, the pursuit of fairness for all developers remains a priority. Epic is pushing for Samsung to create a whitelist system for legitimate third-party app developers to bypass the Auto Blocker.