In addition to fierce legal proceedings with Apple, Epic Games also targeted Google. The Verge report, in the Epic and Google court investigation results document that lifted the ban, Google had considered partially or fully acquiring Epic’s equity. At that time, the two companies were arguing over the Fortress Night game on the Android side.
According to the disclosure of the lifting of the ban, Google’s solution is to buy Epic Games, so that Epic and Google are no longer in competition. Epic also revealed in the document that Google has also proposed a special deal that allows Fortress Night to be re-listed on the Play Store as long as the relevant conditions are met. Not only that but Epic is said to have been contacted by a Google Play manager who admitted that sideloading of apps is a complicated process.
Epic said that even the staff knew that although it was possible to run Fortnite on the Android side through sideloading, there were too many obstacles in the whole process. It is reported that 15 steps are required if sideloading is used, while only 2 steps are required in the Play Store or Apple App Store. In addition, Epic also cited an internal Google document stating that Epic’s plan is a contagious disease that will threaten Google:
Google is not satisfied with its carefully constructed contracts and technical barriers to eliminate competition. It uses its scale, influence, power and money to induce third parties to reach anti-competitive agreements and further consolidate its monopoly position. For example, Google even shares its monopoly profits with business partners to ensure that they agree to contain competition, and has formulated a series of internal projects to address what it thinks Epic and other companies provide competitive alternatives to consumers and developers. In the coming contagion problem, even considering the acquisition of part or all of Epic’s equity to suppress this threat.
According to PC Gamer, Epic Mall lost approximately US$181 million in 2019, and Epic expects to lose approximately US$273 million in 2020. In fact, in 2020 alone, Epic promised a minimum deposit of US$444 million. At the same time, it is estimated that even with significant growth, revenue for that year was only $401 million. Epic admits that this trend will continue in the near future: Epic is expected to lose approximately $139 million in 2021.
