The Epic Games Store, the video game digital distribution service from Epic Games that is partially known for giving away free PC games practically every week, including, most recently, Bear and Breakfast, is expanding to the Google Play Store in 2025, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has announced. Sweeney shared the news yesterday amid reports about how Judge James Donato had issued his final ruling for the Epic v. Google case, effectively deciding that Google’s Android app store is an illegal monopoly. The original word from Sweeney, who called the ruling a “victory,” can be found below.
Big news! The Epic Games Store and other app stores are coming to the Google Play Store in 2025 in the USA – without Google's scare screens and Google's 30% app tax – thanks to victory in Epic v Google.https://t.co/1g6uuw1CJB
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) October 7, 2024
In Epic v. Google, Epic successfully argued that Google had created such a substantial array of deals with developers, carriers, and device makers that it was nigh-impossible for rival stores to spring up. By blocking those sorts of deals, and proactively helping rival app stores, it’s possible some real competition to Google’s monopoly could now arrive.
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Ok. I totally don't get this.
A storefront on a storefront?
I guess it's been done before - EA/Origin is on every digital distribution method out there, and they still run their own storefront. Same with Ubisoft. And that doesn't make this any less retarded - just more retards jumping on a bad idea.
I had an epiphany here on the forums several weeks back about why Apple was able to beat Epic's similar lawsuit, but Google was not.
I wish I could remember what the reason was.
"Brian_B, post: 90239, member: 96" wrote:Ok. I totally don't get this.
A storefront on a storefront?
I guess it's been done before - EA/Origin is on every digital distribution method out there, and they still run their own storefront. Same with Ubisoft. And that doesn't make this any less retarded - just more retards jumping on a bad idea.
I pictured them side-loading the EPIC store, and having it be its own store app.
I imagine Android security is going to take a hit if they are going to be forced to easily open the phones up to side loading of apps that Google cannot control.
"Zarathustra, post: 90245, member: 203" wrote:I imagine Android security is going to take a hit if they are going to be forced to easily open the phones up to side loading of apps that Google cannot control.
I thought you could already side load stuff on Android - it was just Apple that wouldn't let you
"Brian_B, post: 90266, member: 96" wrote:I thought you could already side load stuff on Android - it was just Apple that wouldn't let you
You can. Usually you have to enable a permission setting in Android settings to allow it to occur. (But I think this varies slightly from device to device. This is certainly how it has worked on my Pixel devices for the last several years. I can't speak to Samsung or others)
My thought process was that with more users becoming familiar with it (by necessity if they want the Epic store on their Android device) then it is going to be used by way more people, many of whom probably are not familiar with security precautions, and maybe leaving the side-load permission enabled once they are done with it, opening up an attack vector.
Discussion (4 replies)
Join Discussion →Ok. I totally don't get this.
A storefront on a storefront?
I guess it's been done before - EA/Origin is on every digital distribution method out there, and they still run their own storefront. Same with Ubisoft. And that doesn't make this any less retarded - just more retards jumping on a bad idea.
I had an epiphany here on the forums several weeks back about why Apple was able to beat Epic's similar lawsuit, but Google was not.
I wish I could remember what the reason was.
I pictured them side-loading the EPIC store, and having it be its own store app.
I imagine Android security is going to take a hit if they are going to be forced to easily open the phones up to side loading of apps that Google cannot control.
I thought you could already side load stuff on Android - it was just Apple that wouldn't let you
You can. Usually you have to enable a permission setting in Android settings to allow it to occur. (But I think this varies slightly from device to device. This is certainly how it has worked on my Pixel devices for the last several years. I can't speak to Samsung or others)
My thought process was that with more users becoming familiar with it (by necessity if they want the Epic store on their Android device) then it is going to be used by way more people, many of whom probably are not familiar with security precautions, and maybe leaving the side-load permission enabled once they are done with it, opening up an attack vector.