The fight between Google and Epic Games isn’t just about Fortnite—it’s about who controls the future of mobile gaming and app stores. As a gaming and tech entrepreneur, I see this as a crucial moment for developers, startups, and the entire industry.
If you care about innovation, fair competition, and having real choices, you need to pay attention to this case.
What’s Happening?
Epic Games and Google are still fighting. Yes, there are! This time, it’s at the U.S. Court of Appeals, where Google is trying to overturn a major antitrust loss from last year.
If you’re wondering, “Why should I care?”, here’s the deal: this case isn’t just about Epic Games and Fortnite. It’s about who controls mobile gaming, how developers can reach players, and whether you actually have a choice when it comes to app stores.
Let’s break it down.
Google vs. Epic: The Core of the Fight
This all started in 2020, when Epic Games tried to let Fortnite players buy in-game items directly from Epic, bypassing the Google Play Store and its 30% cut on transactions. Google (and Apple) weren’t happy. Both removed Fortnite from their app stores.
Epic fired back with lawsuits, claiming this was anti-competitive behavior—a way for these tech giants to control the entire ecosystem and block alternatives.
- Epic sued both Apple and Google.
- Apple won in court, but Google lost in 2023.
- Now, Google is appealing to get that ruling overturned.
Why Google Lost, but Apple Won
The reason Google lost while Apple won comes down to control.
Apple owns the entire iPhone experience — hardware, iOS, and the App Store. That means they get to make the rules. Courts saw Apple as a closed ecosystem, not a monopoly.
Google, on the other hand, doesn’t make most of the phones that run Android. It licenses Android to companies like Samsung and then pays them to keep competitors (like the Epic Games Store) off their devices. That’s where they got in trouble.
Read also: The Future of Game Subscriptions — Why Engagement, Not Just Access, Will Define Success
What’s at Stake?
If Google wins this appeal, it keeps its tight grip on the Play Store, keeping alternative app stores out and limiting developer freedom.
If Google loses, it could open the doors for:
✅ More competition in app stores (Epic Games Store, Amazon Appstore, others).
✅ Lower fees for developers (no more mandatory 30% cuts).
✅ More choice for consumers in how they download apps.
This is why Microsoft, the FTC, and even the U.S. Department of Justice are backing Epic. They see Google’s gatekeeping as a real problem.
Google’s Defense: “But Apple Won!”
Google’s argument is simple: “If Apple won against Epic, we should too.”
Their lawyer, Jessica Ellsworth, claims that Apple and Google are fierce competitors and should be treated the same. But the judges aren’t buying it.
One judge even pointed out:
❌ Apple makes iPhones. Google does not.
❌ Apple runs a closed system. Google influences an “open” one (Android).
It’s a key difference, and it could mean Google’s appeal fails.
What This Means for Mobile Gaming
If you’re a developer, this case could break the Play Store’s monopoly and allow more ways to reach players. That means lower fees, more profits, and more control over your own games.
If you’re a gamer, it could mean better deals, more choices, and fewer roadblocks to downloading and paying for apps however you want.
Right now, Google controls the gates. This case could change that.
Read also: Gaming Is About to Make VCs Billions — Here’s Why
What’s Next?
The Court of Appeals will rule sometime this year. If Google loses again, they will probably take it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Whatever happens, this fight is bigger than Fortnite. It’s about the future of how we buy, download, and play games on mobile.
What This Means for Thrum
At Thrum.gg, we believe in giving players real choices—discovering and playing games without artificial barriers. The outcome of this case matters because it will shape how developers can reach players and how new platforms like ours can thrive in an industry dominated by gatekeepers.
If Epic wins, it could open the door for more flexible distribution, lower fees, and fewer restrictions—all things that help Thrum’s mission to make game discovery seamless and accessible across platforms. But even if Google wins, Thrum is still in a strong position.
So while an Epic victory could accelerate change, even if nothing shifts, Thrum is still set to thrive in the new era of game discovery.
Stay tuned. This battle isn’t over yet.
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Thank you for reading. Every day I look at the gaming industry, read up on things, and talk to industry people. In my Medium blogs, I try to give my readers and 1.5K followers a solid sense of trends, analysis, investments, and more in gaming. If you found this interesting, I’d appreciate it if you shared the article — but even more, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
