According to court filings, Google was considering buying Epic Games after the two companies fought over Epics Fortnite Android application. Google removed some redactions from Epics antitrust lawsuit against Google last night. Epic amended the complaint and refiled it last month. Although the complaint does not include details regarding Google's dealings with particular companies, the updated details reflect internal Google communications about the Android platform's competition.Epic claims that Google was threatened by its plans for bypassing Google's Play Store Commission by distributing Fortnite via other channels. In an unredacted segment it quotes an internal Google document describing Epics plans as a contagion threatening Google. Here's Epics description:Google went so far as sharing its monopoly profits to business partners to secure their agreement for competition. It has developed a series internal projects to address the contagion it saw from Epic and other efforts to offer consumers and developers competing alternatives. Epic was even considered to be bought to end this threat.These internal messages, which were discussed about this possibility, remain secret. The complaint does not indicate that Epic ever reached out with these plans. The complaint doesn't provide a timeline for the discussion, even though it is alleged that it took place after Epic launched its plans to launch Fortnite on Android.Epic also claims that Google offered it a special deal for Fortnite's launch on the Play Store. Another section of the complaint is not sealed. It describes how a Google Play manager reached out to Epic to discuss sideloading Fortnite. He apparently admitted that sideloading Fortnite was a terrible experience.Epics Vice President and co-founder, one manager, contacted Epics to discuss a special deal. They also discussed Fortnite's direct download experience on Android. According to Epics Vice President and Co-Founder, the manager called notes and stated that direct Fortnite download was a terrible experience and she didn't want to go through the 15+ steps.Another section states that employees have admitted internally that the difficulties Google places on users who want to direct download results in a poor user experience. This is because there are 15+ steps for app [via sideloading] as compared to 2 steps on iOS or Play.Google, Epic claims in its complaint, is aware that the many barriers it creates for direct downloading protect its app distribution monopoly as well as limit developers' ability to distribute their apps.An internal Google document entitled Response to Epic explained that direct downloading caused install friction which was bad for users and that Google had determined from its data that this would severely limit [Epics] reach. Further explanations are given in the document, titled Response to Epic. They explain that future Fortnite updates will be difficult to target and update via web. That direct downloading was associated most with malicious apps which would be incompatible [Epics] brand/demographics. And that [t]he method will cause significant confusion for users, as [Google Play] will still attract billions of users who will search Fortnite and find dead ends that they don't know how to solve.Recently, Epics lawsuit was linked to a larger state antitrust suit against Google. A group of state attorneys general alleges, like Epic, that Android is less open than Google claims. They claim it creates deliberate barriers, including Android phone features, and deals with phone manufacturers to limit third-party app shops and discourage direct downloading.Google declares Epics' lawsuit unfoundedSome redactions were also removed in state complaints. They mostly related to Google's internal descriptions of Android's workings. Google, in a presentation on Amazon's App Store 2017, stated that while most developers and users are not conscious of their choices, they do choose to go with the default. It also referred to Apple as a new closed internet ecosystem that centralizes content distribution via apps stores and payments via app store services. However, the context is not clear.Google strongly refuted the claims made in both suits. Developers can distribute their apps through multiple app stores thanks to the open Android ecosystem. We have consistent policies for game developers who use the Play Store. These policies are fair to developers and keep users safe, Epics stated in an earlier comment on Epics amended filing. Fortnite is still available for Android but we cannot make it available on Play due to our policies. These meritless claims will be denied. We will defend ourselves.Epic sued Google and Apple last year for introducing a Fortnite payment system. This allowed Epic to bypass their payment systems and receive commissions. Both companies were forced to remove Fortnite from their mobile stores. Sideloading is still possible for Fortnite on Android devices. The Epics case against Apple was brought to trial in May. It is currently awaiting a decision from the court.
