The ongoing Epic Games vs Google legal battle is nearing its end and the Fortnite maker is emerging as the winner. Following its court wins from 2023 and 2024, Epic has now amassed its latest victory as the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied Google’s appeal to the previous rulings.
This means Google will now be forced to allow third-party app stores to be publicly visible within the Play Store and operate freely with full access to its app catalog over the next three years.
App developers can also set up and use alternative billing systems for apps and subscriptions, bypassing Google’s own payment system and its 30% app tax. In addition, developers will be able to freely link users to download options outside of the Play Store.
Google is also prohibited from offering device makers or carriers any form of money or perks to deter them from pre-installing third-party app stores on devices.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed that the Epic Games Store for Android is coming to Google Play as soon as possible.
Google’s regulatory affairs chief, Lee-Anne Mulholland, issued a statement following the court decision, claiming it would “significantly harm user safety” and “undermine the innovations that make Android competitive”. Google is expected to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court but it will still have to begin implementing the new changes.
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