Telefónica, one of the world’s largest mobile operators serving the UK, Spain, Germany and Latin America with the O2 and Movistar networks, will begin pre-installing the Epic Games Store on every new compatible Android phone it sells – including Samsung phones .

It’s part of a “long-term partnership” to make the store a hit Fortnite According to Telefónica and Epic, on “millions” of the mobile operator’s devices. It will be the first time the Epic Games Store has come pre-installed on consumer phones, and it could be the next big step toward realizing Epic’s dreams of challenging Google’s App Store monopoly and increasing its revenue cut.

Last December, a federal jury unanimously decided in favor of Epic Games Epic vs GoogleIt concluded that Google had turned its Android app store and Google Play billing service into an illegal monopoly. Epic originally sued in 2020, alleging that Google “blocked” or “bribed” phone makers and carriers to keep games running Fortnite and prevent alternative app stores from pre-installing on phones.

But now, about a month after Judge James Donato barred Google from any further potential blocking or bribes, one of the world’s largest providers will begin pre-installing and adding a full rival game store (one that may include non-games in the future apps). ) to Google’s own.

Telefónica was not one of the mobile providers that Google “bribed,” confirmed Epic spokeswoman Natalie Muñoz The edgeSo it’s not like Judge Donato’s order makes this possible again.

In fact, Telefónica has worked with Epic in the past. In 2020, it began allowing pinning to Movistar customers in Spain Fortnite Add purchases to your phone bill. That year, court documents revealed that Telefónica expected to make 5 percent of the proceeds from it Fortnite players as a result. Similar offers have been made to Verizon and Hutchison (Three, Wind Tre), but we don’t know if they will follow suit now.

I wonder what Samsung thinks about Telefónica pre-installing the Epic Game Store on its phones – this September, Epic also sued Samsung.