NPR This is the indicator from Planet Money. I'm Darren Woods.

And I'm Waylon Wong.

Back in August of 2020, the company Epic Games set into motion an ambitious plan.

Epic wanted to provoke two tech Titans, Apple and Google. And its plan for doing

this involved making an update to its blockbuster video game, Fort Knight.

In Fort Knight, players spend real life money on virtual currency to use in the game.

And here's what Epic did. The company introduced a way for Fortnite players to buy this virtual currency directly from Epic.

That meant players with mobile devices would bypass Apple or Google.

This kind of direct payment system is against the rules that Apple and Google have for their

mobile app stores.

So that same day, the two companies booted Fort Knight from their platforms.

Alstit, exiled.

And that is just what Epic actually wanted to happen. Within hours, the company

sued Apple and Google in federal court and accused them of anti-competitive behavior.

This week, Epic and Google are back in federal court for a hearing that kicks off the newest round

of legal wrangling.

Today on the show, we explore the antitrust issues at the heart of this years-long long conflict and how the fallout could reshape the world of mobile app marketplaces. Support for this podcast and the following message come from Wise, the app that makes managing your money in

different currencies easy. With Wise, you can send and spend money internationally

at the mid-market exchange rate, no guesswork and no hidden fees.

Learn more about how WISE could work for you at wise.com.

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