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Home›News›Epic Games is “Friends Again” with Samsung and Google
August 20, 2026 • 2 min read
After years of legal battles over app stores and app distribution, Epic Games has now made peace with Samsung and Google. Speaking at Unreal Fest Seoul 2026, CEO Tim Sweeney said the company is now “friends again” with the two Android giants. The truce comes after Samsung and Google agreed to make changes to Android and One UI to accommodate third-party app stores like the Epic Games Store.
Epic Games Store will get easier to use on Android
Sweeney said Google and Samsung are working to remove some of the barriers that have made it difficult to install and use third-party app stores on Android devices. Expected to roll out by the end of this year, the changes make the Epic Games Store easier to install globally, without the fee structure Google previously imposed on alternative stores.
Google has already agreed to make several changes to Android’s app distribution system. These include giving third-party app stores more support and lowering some of the fees charged through Google Play. Depending on the transaction, fees could eventually fall to around 10% to 15%.
For Epic Games, this is a major shift after years of criticism aimed at both Google and Samsung. The company has previously accused Samsung of making sideloading on Galaxy devices unnecessarily difficult through features such as Auto Blocker. Epic also argued that Google’s Android policies made it harder for competing app stores to reach users. Those disagreements have now been settled.
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While the firm seems to have repaired its relationship with Samsung and Google, Sweeney made it clear that Apple remains a major target. Epic continues to challenge Apple’s restrictions around third-party app stores and payments. Sweeney has also criticized Apple’s approach in countries where the company has made changes to allow alternative stores.
Written by
Sobha is a tech enthusiast who can never seem to stick to one phone ecosystem for too long. A regular switcher between Android and iOS, she enjoys experiencing both platforms firsthand. She has a particular fascination with connected technology and how different devices work together. Ironically, her habit of switching between ecosystems often makes interoperability even more important to her. She hopes device ecosystems become truly interoperable someday, so switching between platforms doesn’t mean having to give up features or worry about compatibility.