Epic Games is Suing Samsung over One UI’s Sideloading App Restrictions

Epic Games, the developer behind the immensely popular game Fortnite, has once again sailed in the legal arena. Epic Games has announced that it is suing both Samsung and Google over restrictions on app sideloading on Android devices. The lawsuit specifically targets Samsung’s One UI’s newly launched “Auto-Blocker” feature. The new functionality adds another layer of difficulty to the process of installing apps from third-party sources on Android. Epic Games doesn’t like Samsung’s new feature and is now suing the brand over sideloading app restrictions.

Epic Games’ lawsuit specifically targets Samsung’s new One UI “Auto-Blocker” feature

Sideloading applications outside of the Play Store has always been part of Android’s ecosystem. The feature has existed ever since the beginning. However, Apple’s iOS has historically been very restrictive for the same. It only recently allowed sideloading apps and that too in the European Union. Samsung’s newly launched “Auto-Blocker” feature in One UI has made it more difficult to sideload apps from sources other than the Play Store.

Epic Games doesn’t like Samsung’s new functionality and is suing the brand for it. Epic has also dragged Google into the same legal battle. The company has filed its latest lawsuit against Samsung and Google in the Northern District of California. The latest antitrust lawsuit alleges a coordinated effort between the aforementioned companies to undermine third-party app stores like the Epic Games Store.

“Auto-Blocker” restricts devices running One UI 6.1.1 and up from side-loading apps by default

Samsung’s new “Auto-Blocker” feature restricts any devices running One UI 6.1.1 (detailed review) or higher version from side-loading apps by default. The feature was the main reason why Epic Games removed its entire game library from the Galaxy Store earlier this year. Notably, Samsung users can bypass the restriction by turning “Auto-Blocker” off in the Settings app. However, Epic argues that turning off the functionality is an overwhelming 21-step process.

Epic believes that the long process discourages Samsung users from attempting to install third-party app stores like Epic Games Store. Furthermore, the company claims that Samsung’s One UI 6.1.1’s new feature undermines the Epic v. Google court ruling from December 2023. Epic won that case and the court determined that Google holds monopoly power in the app distribution market. The search titan has a history of compensating OEMs like Samsung to refrain from directly competing with the Play Store.

In the lawsuit, Epic Games is asking the court for “Auto-Blocker” to be declared unlawful. Also, it seeks the court to mandate that Samsung removes it from One UI or disable it by default. Both Samsung and Google are expected to appeal to Epic’s new lawsuit and the case could go on for the foreseeable future.