Epic Games and Google End Legal Battle: Android Will Open to Third-Party Stores

A long-standing legal battle between Epic Games и Google, which began in August 2020, has come to an end. The companies announced that they had achieved settlement agreement, which could radically change the Android ecosystem by giving developers more freedom to choose how they distribute and monetize their apps.

Epic's lawsuit against Google was filed simultaneously with a similar case against Apple. In December 2023, Epic won a complete victory over Google in court, and this decision was upheld on appeal. Even Google's appeal to the US Supreme Court was unsuccessful, which ultimately led the parties to negotiations and a joint compromise.

Under the terms of the agreement, Google is obligated to reduce its commission. Up to 20% off purchases with in-game benefits и up to 9% for the rest. It will also be displayed in apps, including the Epic Games Store. alternative payment system along with Google Play Billing. Starting with the next version of Android and up to 30 June 2032, Google will allow users install third-party app stores directly from websites through one installation screen, using neutral interface language.

According to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, the agreement "truly opens up Android" and represents a "comprehensive solution" that compares favorably to Apple's "closed model," which continues to block third-party stores. Furthermore, All changes will apply not only to the US, but throughout the world., making this step much more ambitious than previous court decisions.

If the court approves the agreement, it will officially end the years-long conflict between Epic and Google.