Epic Games has taken aim at Samsung, accusing the company of making it unnecessarily complicated for users to download its hugely popular video game, Fortnite, on specific mobile devices. According to a legal complaint set to be filed on Monday, Epic says that players are forced to go through a grueling “21-step” process just to get the game running on newer Samsung products. This process involves dealing with multiple security warnings and changing default settings, which leads to many users abandoning their attempts to install the game.

Epic claims that about half of the people trying to install Fortnite on these Samsung devices give up before completing the process. The company places the blame squarely on a Samsung feature called “Auto Blocker,” which is turned on by default on the latest devices. This feature is intended to prevent app installations from unknown sources to block potentially malicious activity, but Epic argues it unfairly affects Fortnite, turning users away before they even start playing.

Samsung has responded firmly to these allegations, declaring its intent to “vigorously contest” what it calls “baseless claims.” The tech giant defends the Auto Blocker feature, stating that it’s a crucial part of its commitment to enhancing security, privacy, and user control for its customers. Samsung also pointed out that users have the option to disable Auto Blocker if they choose, giving them control over what apps they install. The company emphasized its dedication to fair competition and enhancing consumer choice through its security measures.

Meanwhile, Epic points out that the installation process on other Android phones and tablets involves just 12 steps, highlighting what it sees as a significant discrepancy. Epic claims this discrepancy is not only unreasonable but also a violation of competition laws, as it makes Fortnite less accessible to Samsung users than to those with other Android devices. They believe that a legitimate app like Fortnite should not be subjected to these barriers, especially considering its prior availability on Google Play and past collaborations with Samsung, including Fortnite-themed competitions and exclusive in-game items.

Epic wants Samsung to establish a more streamlined process for third-party developers to apply for exemption from the Auto Blocker restrictions. So far, however, there has been no progress on this front. Samsung counters that apps available in their Galaxy Store or the Google Play Store are easily downloadable with just a couple of clicks due to the approval processes they undergo—something that is not the case for apps like Fortnite, which are downloaded directly from third-party sources.

This legal clash marks another chapter in Epic Games’ long-standing battle with major tech companies over app distribution. In 2020, Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their respective app stores after Epic introduced its own in-app payment system to sidestep platform commissions. This led to a series of lawsuits, with Epic accusing both tech giants of stifling competition and limiting consumer choice.

More recently, Fortnite returned to iPhones in the EU after Apple was legally compelled to open its app marketplace, but the game remains unavailable for iOS users in the UK—an indicator of the ongoing conflict between Epic and the major platform operators.

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, expressed his frustration at having to pursue more legal action, this time targeting Samsung. “The fight against Samsung is new, and it really sucks,” Sweeney said, adding that he hadn’t expected the situation to escalate to this point. Despite the setbacks, Sweeney underscored that Epic’s primary goal remains the same: to create “a truly level playing field” for app developers. He acknowledged that the company might have made more money if it had not challenged the big players, but asserted that achieving fairness across the digital ecosystem is worth more than short-term financial gains.

The ongoing conflict between Epic and Samsung shines a light on the broader struggles that characterize the mobile app ecosystem, where device manufacturers and app developers often clash over user access and control. While Samsung maintains that features like Auto Blocker are crucial for safeguarding its users, Epic argues that these barriers unduly limit consumer choice and hinder fair competition. The outcome of this legal confrontation could have a wide-reaching impact on how third-party apps are treated by mobile manufacturers in the future, potentially influencing the policies that govern app accessibility across many devices.