Epic Games, known for its famous game Fortnite, has clinched a major win in its antitrust lawsuit against Google. The verdict, delivered unanimously by a jury on Monday, brings an end to a difficult three-year legal battle. It sets a potential new course for mobile app stores like Google Play.

In 2020, Epic initiated this legal battle, targeting Google's app store policies. The lawsuit claimed that these practices violated federal and California state antitrust laws. The core issue was Google requiring app payments to be routed through their system, taking a major cut of in-app revenues.

Epic's battle is part of a broader push to unite app developers against the dominance of mobile software giants like Apple and Google. Fortnite, despite its vast availability, has been embroiled in this controversy, partly due to the app store policies.

The case against Google was complex, given Android's allowance for app sideloading – a feature not available in iOS. But Google's cautious approach towards 3rd-party apps and the lengthy installation process posed a significant challenge. It wasn't certain that Epic would prevail in its case against Play Store's less restrictive stance. Surprisingly, the jury sided with Epic, marking a major shift in the legal tussle.

Epic has hailed the decision as a victory for app builders and users worldwide. 

"Today's verdict is a win for all app developers and consumers around the world," wrote Epic Games. "It proves that Google's app store practices are illegal and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition and reduce innovation."

The firm also pointed to ongoing regulatory developments, like the U.K.'s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill, and the EU's Digital Markets Act, that aim to regulate dominant software practices.

Google, however, is not backing down. Wilson White, Google's VP of Government Affairs & Public Policy, announced plans to appeal. 

"We plan to challenge the verdict. Android and Google Play provide more choice and openness than any other major mobile platform," said White. "We will continue to defend the Android business model and remain deeply committed to our users, partners, and the broader Android ecosystem."

This lawsuit echoes Epic's previous fight with Apple, which began with a spoof of Apple's iconic "1984" advertisement and led to a mixed court decision two years ago. The ruling slightly favored Apple but required more openness in its software market.

As Epic celebrates its recent victory and the success of its latest launch, Lego Fortnite, the legal battles continue. With appeals and regulatory scrutiny ahead, the story of Epic's fight against these tech giants is far from over.