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Epic Games won their antitrust action against Google and its monopolistic Play Store tactics late last year. In a verdict that came after three years of litigation, the jury found that Google’s Play Billing service constitutes an illegal monopoly. The injunction prohibits the tech giant from entering into any agreements with carriers or device makers to pre-install the Play Store or, more significantly, to prohibit the installation of competing app stores on devices until November 1st, 2027.
This historic ruling has far-reaching consequences; as a result, Epic is free to work with original equipment manufacturers and carriers to get the Epic Games Store preinstalled on devices.
Epic Games Store Arrives on Millions of Telefónica Smartphones
The Epic Games Store will be available on “millions” of Android smartphones owned by Telefónica customers, according to a press statement from Epic Games (via TechCrunch) that details the company’s partnership with the Spanish carrier. With the Epic Games Store already loaded on devices, players in Latin America, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Germany will have quicker access to games such as Fortnite, Fall Guys, Rocket League Sideswipe, and many more.
You can find smartphones from a variety of brands at Telefónica, including Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola, Oppo, and more. Not long ago, Epic sued Samsung because its Auto Blocker feature is always on, which Epic said makes it hard for rivals to make app stores that don’t need to be sideloaded.
Epic Teases More Exciting Announcements Ahead
If you want to start with something that makes sense, it would be Telefónica. In addition to co-creating the enormous in-game O2 arena musical experience in Fortnite, Telefónica was the first mobile carrier to implement Direct Carrier Billing in the Epic Games Store, demonstrating the long-standing relationship between the two companies.
Epic has already said that “this is just the beginning, and over the next year the companies plan to expand the partnership and bring more benefits to mobile players across the Telefónica network.” However, it is yet unknown what exactly this partnership will involve in the future. As with other exclusive skin releases via Samsung, Honour, Twitch, PlayStation, Xbox, and others, this might come to fruition as Fortnite skins exclusive to devices on the Telefónica network. If Epic is able to accomplish the same with other carriers, the outcome will be the same.
