Google Considered Buying Epic Games To Quash Play Store Competition

If you need a reminder, the whole Epic Games legal battle was kicked off when it tried circumventing the 30% cut that both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store demands. For the latter platform, it was already possible if Fortnite players sideloaded the game rather than getting it through the Play Store.

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) August 6, 2021 The internet search giant saw this as a problem, going as far as to call it a “contagion”. Google has also allegedly offered Epic Games a “special deal” to launch Fortnite on the Play Store. Naturally, Google has denied the claims. Doing otherwise will likely put it in deeper antitrust hot water. As it is, the company is already alleged to be anti-competitive, with the Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser saying that the company has virtually eliminated rivals and deprived consumers of the benefits of competitive choices. (Source: CourtListener via The Verge)