Google reportedly muzzles Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney until 2032

Source: Engadget

Background

Epic Games’ courtroom battle with Google has concluded, but the settlement includes a clause that restricts how CEO Tim Sweeney can speak about the tech giant for years to come.

Settlement Terms

• The agreement requires Epic and Sweeney to speak positively about Google’s competitiveness and app‑store operations.
• The clause reads, “Epic believes that the Google and Android platform, with the changes in this term sheet, are pro‑competitive and a model for app store / platform operations, and will make good‑faith efforts to advocate for the same.”
• The terms will expire five years after Google finishes rolling out changes to its service fees. Google expects to complete these changes worldwide by September 30, 2027, meaning Sweeney cannot make negative statements about Google until after September 30, 2032.

Impact on Tim Sweeney

Sweeney, a vocal critic of Apple and Google’s app‑store practices, has previously called both companies “gangster‑style businesses” engaged in illegal practices. The settlement limits his ability to publicly criticize Google for the next several years.

Recent Developments

• Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Google in 2020, alleging an illegal monopoly on Android app distribution and in‑app billing.
• Google lost the lawsuit in 2023 and its appeal two years later.
• The companies reached a settlement in November 2025.
• On March 4, 2024, Google reduced its Play Store transaction fee from 30 % to 20 % (and to 15 % in some cases).
• Following this change, Epic announced the return of Fortnite to the Play Store worldwide. Sweeney posted on X:

“Google is opening up Android all the way with robust support for competing stores, competing payments, and a better deal for all developers. So, we’ve settled all of our disputes worldwide. THANKS GOOGLE!”

Future statements from Sweeney about Google will need to maintain a similarly positive tone for the duration of the settlement clause.

Source

This article originally appeared on Engadget: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/google-reportedly-muzzles-epic-games-ceo-tim-sweeney-until-2032-105501644.html?src=rss