Maya Robertson
After more than five years of legal disputes over app distribution and billing practices on Android, Google and Epic Games have reached a proposed settlement that could reshape how apps are distributed and monetized across the Google Play ecosystem. The agreement, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, now awaits approval from Judge James Donato, who presided over Epic’s earlier courtroom victory in 2023.
The case originated in 2020, when Epic challenged Google’s requirements that developers use Google Play Billing for in-app purchases and pay associated commissions. A jury later ruled that Google unlawfully restricted competition in the Android app marketplace. The ruling led to a permanent injunction requiring changes to the Play Store in the U.S., but the proposed settlement seeks to extend and modify those changes globally.
Under the proposed settlement, Google would make several structural changes to Android and Google Play:
- Lowered Fees: Google will reduce its service fees to either 9% or 20%, depending on the nature of the transaction. These fees apply even when developers use alternative billing methods.
- Support for Third-Party App Stores: Android would introduce a new “Registered App Store” program beginning with the next major OS version. This program would allow approved third-party app stores to be installed more easily, improving visibility and reducing user friction.
- Side-by-Side Payment Options: Developers would be permitted to present Google Play Billing and third-party billing options together, including offering lower prices for alternatives.
- Longer-Term Implementation: The Registered App Store program and modified fee structure would extend globally through June 2032, surpassing the three-year term set by the initial injunction.
If approved, the settlement could expand access to competing app stores and open new distribution pathways for developers seeking alternatives to Google Play. This moves Android closer to the “open platform” model Epic has argued for, contrasting with Apple’s more centralized App Store ecosystem.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney described the proposal as a step toward enabling competing stores and payment methods at scale. Google’s Sameer Samat, President of the Android ecosystem, highlighted that the agreement focuses on developer choice while maintaining user safety.
Google has made an awesome proposal, subject to court approval, to open up Android in the US Epic v Google case and settle our disputes. It genuinely doubles down on Android's original vision as an open platform to streamline competing store installs globally, reduce service fees… https://t.co/Q6E4XE3ych
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) November 5, 2025
The settlement is not yet final. Judge Donato must review and approve the proposal, and the court could request revisions. A hearing is scheduled to discuss the terms.
If the agreement is accepted, the resulting changes could have a significant impact on:
- Developers weighing platform and billing strategies
- Competing app stores’ ability to gain traction
- Broader app distribution policy debates, including those involving Apple
The outcome may also influence how other platforms evaluate their own marketplace rules, particularly as regulators worldwide continue to scrutinize mobile app ecosystems.
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