Supreme Court clears the way for major Google Play overhaul after antitrust ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied Google’s request to delay a lower court order requiring sweeping reforms to its Play Store operations, marking a significant turning point in the long-running antitrust battle with Fortnite maker Epic Games.

The decision means Google must comply with federal orders to open Android’s app ecosystem to rival stores, allow developers to use alternative billing systems, and remove restrictions that prevent users from accessing cheaper payment options outside the Play Store. The changes are expected to begin taking effect later this month, with full implementation deadlines stretching into 2026.

The ruling stems from a 2020 lawsuit in which Epic Games accused Google of running an illegal monopoly by controlling how Android users download apps and make in-app purchases. A California jury sided with Epic in December 2023, and U.S. District Judge James Donato later issued an injunction requiring Google to dismantle its exclusivity around app distribution and payments.

Google had sought emergency relief from the Supreme Court after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Donato’s order in July. In its filing, the company argued the injunction would expose more than 100 million U.S. users and 500,000 developers to “security and safety risks” from potentially malicious third-party stores.

Despite those warnings, the justices declined to grant a stay. The Supreme Court did not provide comment on its decision.

“The changes ordered by the U.S. District Court will jeopardize users’ ability to safely download apps,” Google said in a statement, adding that it will continue to appeal the case. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, meanwhile, celebrated the decision on X, saying developers would soon be “legally entitled” to offer alternative payment options without Google’s fees or “friction.”

Under Donato’s injunction, Google must allow rival app stores to operate within the Play Store and grant them access to its full catalog of Android apps — provisions that are set to take effect by mid-2026. The company must also permit developers to display links directing users to external payment systems starting this month.

The reforms are part of broader efforts to dismantle what regulators and industry challengers describe as a long-standing duopoly between Google and Apple over the mobile app economy. Epic filed similar claims against Apple in 2020, resulting in limited remedies that forced the iPhone maker to allow links to outside payment options.

For Google, the latest setback comes as it faces multiple government and private lawsuits targeting its dominance in other sectors, including digital advertising and search. Both areas have already been labeled monopolistic by federal judges in ongoing cases brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.

While Google’s core advertising business remains its primary revenue driver, the Play Store overhaul could weaken one of its most profitable ecosystems. For developers and consumers, however, the decision signals the most significant restructuring of Android’s app marketplace in more than a decade — one that could reshape how millions of apps are distributed and monetized worldwide.