Overview
- At a San Francisco hearing, the court disclosed Epic will spend $800 million over six years on Google services in a pact touching Android, Fortnite and Unreal Engine, with most specifics under seal.
- Testimony described reciprocal marketing commitments — Epic promoting Android and Google promoting Fortnite — plus broader Google access to Unreal Engine.
- Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said the companies will build separate product lines while working together, calling the arrangement a transfer of value to Google and denying any special treatment for the Epic Games Store.
- Judge James Donato questioned whether the partnership amounts to a quid pro quo and noted the business arrangement is tied to final approval of the broader settlement.
- If approved, the settlement would cap certain Play commissions at 9% or 20% and swap app catalog access for a worldwide six-year “registered app stores” program; no ruling has been issued.