Running an app store is simply a profitable concern – 1 that level makers are keen to protect. That utilized to beryllium the lawsuit with Google too, but the decision of a 6-year ineligible conflict with Epic Games has travel to a astonishment ending that volition marque third-party app stores that overmuch much accessible.
The communicative started successful 2020 erstwhile Epic sued Google, alleging that Google held a monopoly successful the Android app organisation marketplace and in-app billing services. A jury sided with Epic, but this past went done an entreaty process until, eventually, the 2 companies reached a colony statement successful 2025.
According to the settlement, Android would person been opened up to installing third-party app stores – but lone ones approved by Google arsenic portion of its “Registered App Stores” program. And arsenic an further hurdle, these third-party app stores would person had to beryllium sideloaded by the user.
Now, The Verge reports that Google and Epic person ripped up this colony and the hunt elephantine volition conscionable unfastened the doors – starting adjacent week (July 22), third-party app stores volition beryllium installable from the Google Play Store for users successful the US.
There volition inactive beryllium a process to get a third-party app store accepted into the Google Play Store (more details here). That said, galore users are not comfy with sideloading, truthful this is simply a large triumph for the likes of Epic Games (and we ideate that different large publishers volition articulation in).
The process of installing a Registered App Store
Again, this is for the US market. For the planetary market, Google is moving guardant with its Registered App Stores plan. This is inactive a bully happening arsenic Google volition little its work fees – in-app acquisition fees volition beryllium reduced to 20% and recurring subscription fees to 10%.
Google Play’s revised interest structure
Also, app developers volition beryllium escaped to usage third-party billing for their apps and games – but if they take Google Play’s billing system, they volition wage little fees than before. Devs successful the European Economic Area, the UK and the US are looking astatine 5% fees. More details here. Note that the changes are already successful effect successful immoderate regions, but the planetary deadline is the extremity of September 2027.
English (US) ·