Epic Games has accused Google of using a 'bribe and block' scheme to stifle competition.
Google offered a $360 million incentive package to Activision Blizzard and an $18 million agreement with Tencent's Riot Games to ensure their games launched on the Google Play store.
The trial is Google's second major U.S. antitrust trial in two months and is expected to last until just before Christmas.
The ongoing antitrust trial between Epic Games and Google has brought to light Google's 'Project Hug', a strategy alleged by Epic to be aimed at maintaining developers within Google's ecosystem through incentives. The case, which is Google's second major U.S. antitrust trial in two months, is expected to last until just before Christmas.
Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, has accused Google of employing a 'bribe and block' scheme to suppress competition. The company alleges that Google makes payments to competitors to prevent the creation of alternative app stores and obstructs potential rivals from offering their own payment systems.
Evidence presented in the trial includes a $360 million incentive package offered to Activision Blizzard in 2020 to ensure its games launched on the Google Play store. Google also reached an $18 million agreement with Tencent's Riot Games for the same purpose. These deals are part of what Epic Games claims is Google's willingness to spend millions to keep developers within the Google Play ecosystem.
Lawrence Koh, the former director of games business development for Google Play, testified about 'Project Hug' in 2019. However, the specifics of his testimony have not been disclosed in the articles reviewed.
The trial's outcome could have significant implications for Google's Play Store and its practices regarding app distribution and in-app purchases. It also adds to the growing scrutiny of tech giants and their potential anticompetitive behaviors.