According to engadget, Google and Epic Games have reached a settlement that would end their years-long antitrust lawsuit. The companies filed a proposal in San Francisco federal court asking Judge James Donato to approve modified versions of his original orders from when Google lost the case in late 2023. Google’s Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat announced the changes would focus on expanding developer choice, lowering fees, and encouraging competition while maintaining user safety. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney praised the proposal for doubling down on Android’s original open platform vision. The settlement specifies maximum fees Google can charge for external payments at 9% or 20% depending on transaction type. Both companies will meet with Judge Donato on Thursday to seek final approval.
Sponsored content — provided for informational and promotional purposes.
What this actually changes
Here’s the thing – this settlement basically makes permanent what Google has been fighting against for years. They can’t pay manufacturers to exclusively install the Play Store anymore. They can’t force developers to use only Google’s payment system. And they have to allow third-party app stores to install easily on Android devices.
The fee structure is particularly interesting. Google’s been charging 15-30% through its own payment system, but now they’re capped at 9% or 20% for external payments. That’s still not nothing, but it’s a significant reduction that could save developers serious money. Basically, if you’re building an Android app, you suddenly have way more options for how you handle payments and distribution.
The bigger picture here
This settlement feels like the end of an era. Remember when Epic sued Google back in 2020? They were basically the lone wolf taking on the entire app store monopoly system. Now look where we are – between this and the Apple settlement in Europe, the walls are really coming down around walled gardens.
But here’s my question: will this actually change user behavior? Most people just use the Play Store because it’s there. They don’t go hunting for alternative app stores. Still, having the option available could slowly shift things over time. And for developers? This is huge. More payment options mean more negotiation power and potentially higher revenue shares.
What’s fascinating is how both companies are spinning this as a win. Samat’s post on X talks about keeping users safe while expanding choice, while Sweeney’s response celebrates returning to Android’s “original vision.” They’re both right, in a way – Google gets to maintain some control through “reasonable, neutral criteria” for third-party stores, while Epic gets the open ecosystem it wanted.
Where this is heading
If Judge Donato approves this on Thursday, we’re looking at a fundamentally different Android landscape. Third-party app stores will actually be able to compete on equal footing. Payment processors will have a real shot at the in-app purchase market. And Google? They’ll still make money, just less of it per transaction.
The real test will be whether other companies follow Epic’s lead. Now that there’s a clear path to bypassing Google’s payment system and store dominance, will we see a flood of alternative app stores? Probably. But they’ll need to meet those security standards Google insisted on.
Ultimately, this feels like one of those moments where the tech industry shifts direction. The age of app store monopolies is ending, and we’re moving toward something more open. Whether that’s better for users remains to be seen, but for developers? This is absolutely a win.
