Telefónica, a leading mobile operator managing O2 and Movistar networks in the UK, Spain, Germany, and Latin America, has announced it will pre-install the Epic Games Store on every Android smartphone it sells. This includes Samsung devices. Telefónica and Epic described the initiative as part of a “long-term partnership” aimed at bringing the Epic Games Store and Fortnite to “millions” of Telefónica’s devices.
This agreement marks a significant milestone for Epic Games in its challenge against Google’s app store monopoly. Epic filed a lawsuit in 2020, accusing Google of using “blocking” or “bribing” tactics to prevent the pre-installation of alternative app stores on Android devices.
Legal Background and Impact
In December 2022, a federal court sided with Epic in Epic v. Google, ruling that Google’s practices turned its app store and payment system into an illegal monopoly. By October 2024, Judge James Donato’s final ruling required Google to open its platform to fair competition. Telefónica’s agreement with Epic represents a practical implementation of these decisions, offering users an alternative app store pre-installed alongside Google Play.
Epic officially launched its mobile Epic Games Store in August 2024. Previously, the company had focused on Fortnite download apps, striking deals with Samsung, LG, OnePlus, and Huawei. However, Google’s opposition significantly hindered these efforts. For instance, OnePlus implemented its agreement with Epic only in India, while LG terminated the contract, and others deprioritized similar agreements.
A Bold Step Toward Fair Competition
Experts emphasize that Telefónica was not influenced by Google’s practices. Telefónica and Epic had previously collaborated in 2020 when Movistar customers in Spain were allowed to include Fortnite purchases in their mobile bills. Telefónica likely received five percent of the revenue from those sales.
It remains uncertain whether other major operators like Verizon and Hutchison will adopt Telefónica’s approach, adds NIXSOLUTIONS. Similarly, Samsung’s reaction to the pre-installation of the Epic Games Store is unclear, particularly as Epic filed a lawsuit against Samsung in September 2024.
This move could reshape the mobile app ecosystem, and we’ll keep you updated as more developments unfold.