Epic Games’ lawsuit reveals Google paid Activision Blizzard King $360 million to not build rival app store

2 min. read

Published onNovember 18, 2022

published onNovember 18, 2022

Share this article

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Court filingshave revealed thatback in January 2020 Google struck a three-year deal with Activision Blizzard King(ABK) in which it agreed to pay the latter an impressive $360 million to not create its own competing app store. Or at least that is what Epic Games’ lawsuit alleges.

The documents were brought to light as part of Epic Games’ motion to amend its complaint in regards to its antitrust lawsuit against Google.

This news comes as Microsoft has recently statedits intent to “create a next generation game store which operates across a range of devices, including mobile,” as part of its acquisition of ABK. The remarks were part ofa recent filing with the U.K. Competition & Markets Authority, in which Microsoft also said that it sought to shift consumers away from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. With King’s mobile IPs, which include the likes ofCandy Crush Saga(not to mention Activision’sCall of Dutymobile offerings) Microsoft would have considerable leverage to do so.

Epic Games’ lawsuit alleges that Google has engaged in anticompetitive practices in regards to its Play Store. Particularly the suit sites this deal with ABK—which Epic complains was made on the part of Google because it knew it would stop ABK from creating a competing app store, which it had told Google in intended to do—and several other deals with companies like Tencent Holdings’ Riot Games, Ubisoft, and others.

Last year Epic Games was also involved with a similar lawsuit against Apple, which it largely lost.

ViaReuters.

Robert Collins

User forum

0 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Robert Collins

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Epic Games’ lawsuit reveals Google paid Activision Blizzard King $360 million to not build rival app store#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

Epic Games’ lawsuit reveals Google paid Activision Blizzard King $360 million to not build rival app store