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@ 2020/02/14Epic Games boss calls for industry action
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney opened a game event in Las Vegas by blasting the monopolistic practices of Google and Apple.
Calling for a more open industry, Sweeney alternated between criticizing all of the big players in the game industry to criticizing specific players with examples of how their behaviour isn't good for consumers or for competition
He dubbed Android a "fake open system" for putting up barriers in front of users when Epic Games wanted to enable players to sideload Fortnite directly from the Epic Games site, rather than through the Google Play store.
Sweeney said that Google put up "scary" pop-ups in front of users about the risks of sideloading (viruses, malware) and other steps that users had to engage in order to get Fortnite on Android. Epic also had in "tough discussions" with Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo to make Fortnite available as a crossplay title - meaning you can play against people on other systems, and your progress, items, and so on are available regardless of device) across the platforms.
Sweeney argued that "gamers should be free to engage in any game with their friends anyplace they want without any unnecessary friction".
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney opened a game event in Las Vegas by blasting the monopolistic practices of Google and Apple.
Calling for a more open industry, Sweeney alternated between criticizing all of the big players in the game industry to criticizing specific players with examples of how their behaviour isn't good for consumers or for competition
He dubbed Android a "fake open system" for putting up barriers in front of users when Epic Games wanted to enable players to sideload Fortnite directly from the Epic Games site, rather than through the Google Play store.
Sweeney said that Google put up "scary" pop-ups in front of users about the risks of sideloading (viruses, malware) and other steps that users had to engage in order to get Fortnite on Android. Epic also had in "tough discussions" with Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo to make Fortnite available as a crossplay title - meaning you can play against people on other systems, and your progress, items, and so on are available regardless of device) across the platforms.
Sweeney argued that "gamers should be free to engage in any game with their friends anyplace they want without any unnecessary friction".
