Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney described Google as “a ruthless bully who uses shady techniques to protect a predatory payment system”. The testimony gathered by Fortune appeared in an antitrust lawsuit against Google that is examining the legality of the Play Store’s management of Android apps, and specifically the commissions it charges for in-app transactions.

Sweeney doesn’t mince his words and we’ve seen him “in action” before. similar cases against digital stores which monopolize each of the ecosystems. A few years ago he accused Universal Windows platform from Microsoft, in what he believed was the creation of a closed platform for the PC ecosystem that would harm the distribution and marketing of third-party applications, and in an effort to end Valve’s Steam. Despite the presence of Windows, Microsoft’s attempt was unsuccessful, and the allegations remained in the air.

A few years later, the battle against Apple began, basically for the same reason and with the game Fortnite as the protagonist. A huge media case that called into question the functioning of the App Store and the multimillion-dollar revenue of the most profitable digital store on the planet. Epic Games ultimately lost the case, but appealed to the United States Supreme Court and a final decision is pending.

Epic games against Google

And now it’s Google’s turn. The arguments are similar (not equal) employees against Apple. Sweeney has had a hard time with both of them in the past due to the Fortnite case. His statements that make his point clear still resonate: “Android is a fake open operating system and iOS is even worse”… Epic Games’ current lawsuit against Google is being handled in a court in San Francisco, where last week Google CEO Sundar Pichai went to defend before a 10-member jury the way his company manages digital commerce.

In his response, Sweeney introduced Google as “greedy monopolist”They allege that Google engaged in illegal price gouging by charging commissions ranging from 15% to 30% for digital transactions within the software in so-called in-app transactions.

Sweeney recalled how Google called him at its headquarters in Mountain View and tried to convince him to launch Fortnite on the Play Store with a wide range of financial incentives, which he refused. “Seemed like a crooked deal”Sweeney told the jury. “Google proposed a series of side deals that seemed designed to persuade Epic not to compete with them”.

After rejecting Google’s proposals, Epic tried to distribute Fortnite for Android through its own website. But Sweeney testified that the effort happened quickly “depressive process” because “Machinations of Google” They made it a cumbersome process due to pop-up “scare screens” warning of potential software problems.

In the face of Sweeney’s accusations, Google’s lawyer tried to change the script, and much of Kravis’ questioning was designed to present the Epic boss as executive who is interested in bypassing the commission system to increase his company’s profits video games. He also reminded that Epic pays Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo 30% of transactions on PlayStation, Xbox and Switch consoles without complaint (everything will work) and at the same time collects billions of dollars in profits on these platforms.

Grab your popcorn, because the case, as has already happened against Apple, is going to take a long time. At stake is the very functioning of large mobile app stores, which are essential today for developers who want to distribute their games.