The Daily Guardian Reports: Googles $147 Million Offer to Bring Fortnite to Google Play Store

Title: Google’s $147 Million Offer to Epic Games Unveiled Amid Ongoing Battle Over App Stores

Subtitle: Epic Games’ Lawsuits against Google and Apple Shed Light on Monopoly Claims

Date: [Insert Date]

Source: The Daily Guardian

Word Count: 358

In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that Google, the tech giant known for its dominant presence in the app store market, made a jaw-dropping offer of $147 million to Epic Games. The offer was reportedly aimed at luring the popular game Fortnite onto the Google Play Store, specifically for Chromebook and Android users.

Epic Games, however, chose to bypass the Play Store back in 2018. This tactical move by the game developer was primarily aimed at avoiding Google’s cut of revenue, which they deemed unfair. Consequently, Fortnite enthusiasts were required to sideload the Epic Games Store app to access the game.

Google’s decision to accept Epic’s sideloading method would have set a significant precedent, potentially encouraging other developers to follow suit and abandon Google Play altogether. Fearing the erosion of its market dominance, Google was apparently hesitant about acquiescing to Epic’s demands.

Interestingly, Epic Games declined Google’s lucrative offer, believing that it could earn even more by keeping Fortnite separate from the Play Store. This bold move further fueled the growing tension between the two tech giants.

Fortnite briefly made its way onto the Google Play Store in 2020, much to the surprise of many fans. However, the game’s return was short-lived, as Epic Games introduced direct payments within the game, allowing players to bypass Google’s and Apple’s revenue-sharing policies. Consequently, Fortnite was quickly removed from both app stores, leading to a legal showdown between Epic Games and both tech giants.

Epic Games’ lawsuits against Google and Apple garnered significant attention, with Apple initially scoring better in the court trial. However, the legal battles brought to the forefront discussions about the alleged monopoly both Google and Apple have on app stores, stirring an ongoing debate in the tech industry.

Amidst the legal proceedings, Google has recently faced accusations of destroying evidence in the high-profile Fortnite case. These allegations have only added fuel to the fire, intensifying the ongoing battle between Epic Games and the tech giant.

Undoubtedly, the conflict between Epic Games and Google continues to captivate the industry. The outcome of this contentious duel has far-reaching implications for the app store market and the control that Google and Apple hold over app distribution and revenue sharing.