Epic Victory Royale

Happy Wednesday. Xbox and PlayStation recently rolled out their versions of Year in Review, which allows players to see how much time they spent playing games this year. This can be a great highlight of your gaming achievements, but also a wake-up call if you’re also in the top 5% of all Xbox players for time spent playing games with over 850 hours played — I might need to touch grass.

— Derek Neville, Jason Liu, Tim Rhyne

MAIN QUEST: Jury sides with Epic

In a significant legal victory for Epic Games, the jury in Epic v. Google ruled that Google has created an illegal monopoly with its Google Play app store and Google Play Billing service. The decision came three years after Fortnite-maker Epic Games sued both Apple and Google, alleging they were running illegal app store monopolies.

The jury, after brief deliberations, unanimously agreed that Google holds monopoly power in the Android app distribution and in-app billing services markets, engaged in anticompetitive practices, and caused harm to Epic Games. They found Google's tie between its app store and billing services, as well as its distribution agreements and deals with game developers and OEMs, to be anti-competitive. Google's VP of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Wilson White, stated the company's intention to appeal, emphasizing that the trial showcased Google's fierce competition with Apple and other app stores.

Step back: The jury's decision leaves the future of Google’s app store uncertain, with remedies to be determined by Judge James Donato. While Epic did not seek monetary damages, they sought freedom for app developers to introduce their own app stores and billing systems on Android. We think this will pave the way for another prominent Android app store — perhaps Microsoft will be buddying up with everyone that Apple and Google have rubbed the wrong way.

HUD

• 💻 Insomniac Games has reportedly been hacked with the data being auctioned at a starting price of 50 BTC ($2 Million). Sony is investigating but has “no reason to believe” any of their other divisions have been impacted.

• 👋 The Entertainment Software Association announced the permanent shutdown of E3, which was last held in person in 2019 and virtually in 2021.

• 🎲 Hasbro, the owner of popular IPs including Dungeons & Dragons and Magic the Gathering, is reportedly laying off 1,100 and closing a Rhode Island office. CEO Chris Cocks sent an email to staff saying the layoffs were needed “to keep Hasbro healthy.”

MAJOR W

• 🚀 Bethesda announced some major quality-of-life updates are in the works for Starfield, including city maps, new ways to travel, and official mod support. A big update is planned for early 2024.

• 🧟 Survival games DayZ and Icarus have teamed up to create a bundle, which is currently on sale for 33% off on Steam. The bundle is titled "The Day After Survival Sale Bundle” — clearly a dig at The Day Before’s flop.

F IN THE CHAT

• 🚭 It is now a meme to inhale Steam Deck exhaust. Steam Support responded: “… please refrain from this behavior for the safety of your health.”

• 📆 The next-gen update for Fallout 4 has been delayed until 2024. Bethesda first announced the update in 2022, and it is unknown if the update will include new content along with the performance upgrades.

• 💩 “Sh*t Happens” was Fntastic Studio’s response on Twitter after a player called them out on overhyping and underdelivering with The Day Before, whose launch failure led to the closure of the studio.

CAREER CORNER

• Senior Marketing Manager — PlaiDay (Los Angeles)

• Senior Influencer Campaign Manager — Dare Drop (Remote, NA)

• Community Manager, Gym Class VR — IRL Studios (Remote, US)

Was this email forwarded to you?

Subscribe to Loading Screen today and turn your gaming knowledge up to 11!