- Google and Epic Games have just resolved their long legal dispute
- The deal sees Google make major concessions to the Play Store
- This could bring radical changes to the Android ecosystem
Google and Epic Games have been locked in a legal dispute over the future of the Google Play Store for years. But since the dispute has largely gone in Epic’s favor lately, the two companies have decided to reach an agreement, and it could change the entire Android ecosystem forever.
The deal sees Google make extensive concessions to Epic, radically altering its Play Store and potentially making it unrecognizable from before. In the end, that could be great news for Android fans.
In short, Android developers will no longer be forced to use Google Play Billing when charging users in apps or via external links, and will instead be able to use alternative payment methods. Google will also allow the installation of registered App Stores – that is, alternative application stores – that will have access to the complete catalog of Google Play applications.
In addition to giving users more options, Google is also reducing the fees it charges developers. The situation is quite complex, but the bottom line is that Google can charge 20% for in-app purchases that provide more than one de minimis in-game advantage (presumably things like power-ups), or 9% for anything that doesn’t provide any advantage (like extra levels). Google’s fee is also 9% for subscriptions, non-game app purchases, and advance payments. And if apps want to use Google Play Billing, Google will charge an additional 5%.
These fees are lower than those previously paid by developers, which could be as high as 30%. That raises the possibility of developers passing those savings on to users. If paying for apps and in-app purchases is about to get cheaper, that’s a win for Android users.
It’s also worth noting that the agreement affects users around the world, not just in the United States, and remains valid until June 2032 (a period of 6.5 years). When Google initially lost its case against Epic, the presiding judge ruled that the changes applied would be valid only in the United States and for a period of only three years.
While there are many nuances to the deal (fees charged to developers depend on the date a user installed an app, and the new model only applies to apps newly installed after October 2025, for example), it’s clear that Google has given up a lot of ground here. The agreement is now awaiting approval from the trial judge, which should occur today. With any luck, Google’s concessions will result in a better, more affordable future for Android users.
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