Google and Epic Games have settled their long-running Play Store dispute, with Google agreeing to open Android to third-party app stores and lower developer fees worldwide through 2032.
Google and Epic Games have reached a landmark settlement that could reshape how apps are distributed and monetised on Android devices worldwide.
The agreement follows years of courtroom battles over Google’s control of the Play Store – and if approved by a California judge, will cement sweeping changes to app store competition through June 2032.
The proposed settlement would require Google to open Android to third-party app stores, like the Epic Games Store, allowing users to install alternative marketplaces directly from the web without the current “scare screens” or restrictive permissions.
Rival stores registered under the new system would also gain access to Google Play’s full app catalogue, effectively making them first-class citizens within Android.
Crucially, Google will cut its standard Play Store service fees, from the current 30 per cent to 20 per cent or nine per cent, depending on the type of transaction.
Developers using alternative billing systems can offer lower prices and avoid additional billing fees altogether.
These new rates will apply globally, not just in the U.S., and will last until mid-2032.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney called the proposal “a comprehensive solution” that delivers on Android’s promise as an open platform.
The Fortnite studio boss contrasted Google’s approach with Apple’s, noting that the settlement “doubles down on competition” rather than restricting it.
Google’s Android chief Sameer Samat echoed that sentiment, saying the changes “expand developer choice and flexibility while keeping users safe.”
The deal follows Judge James Donato’s earlier injunction ordering Google to loosen its grip on Android app distribution after a jury found the company had illegally tied its app store to its payment system.
If approved, the settlement could ripple far beyond Google’s ecosystem – setting a new global benchmark for app store transparency, lower fees, and developer freedom that may pressure Apple, Sony, and Microsoft to rethink their own walled gardens.
Google and Epic Games settle legal battle over app store
