Epic wants a judge to open up the Google Play Store for good
Epic wants a judge to open up the Google Play Store for good
Epic Games' proposed injunction aims to make third-party app stores and sideloading an identical experience to using the Play Store.
cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/12886362
- After suing Google years ago for its alleged monopolistic practices regarding Android and the Google Play Store, Epic won in a surprise jury verdict last year.
- As part of the decision, Epic has been tasked with submitting a proposed injunction to the court for consideration. In simpler terms, the court wants to know what changes Epic wants to see on the Google Play Store and Android.
- The court filing comes a few weeks after Epic announced that it will bring the Epic Games Store to iOS and Android as an alternative app marketplace "later this year."
This is something I'm unsure of. While I agree that there should be less obstacles to third party app stores, and sideloading, I'm not sure about taking warnings away is a wise choice. Especially when people are comfort and used to no warnings when using Google Play and other equivalents. Most just doesn't do basic digital hygine. A better route is to bring down Google Play from its system app status and become a normal one, and warnings for everyone.
I agree, a reasonable amount of warnings is perfectly acceptable and dare I say even necessary.
I just went through a new phone process, which for me involves side loading a couple different apps, there was like 1 main warning to turn on side loading in general and then I had to allow individual apps to install other apps (Like Droid-ify, since it's an app store it's gotta be allowed to install other apps) and I wasn't bugged again. A reasonable system IMO.
Basically, Epic doesn't want Google to be able to offer anything that other competing app marketplaces can't. That includes exclusive apps
Kinda funny considering Epic has its own history of releasing games that are exclusive to its store.