There has been a remarkable development in the long-standing legal process between Google and Epic Games that directly affects the Android ecosystem. The parties abandoned their joint attempt to change the permanent injunction previously issued by the US court. In line with this decision, Google is preparing to start distribution of third-party Android application stores via Google Play in the USA as of July 22. Thus, the new order shaped after the lawsuit filed by Epic Games will significantly change the position of application stores on the Android platform.
In its statement to the court, Google stated that prolonging the process further creates uncertainty for developers and the ecosystem. The company stated that it will instead focus on the global business model changes it recently announced. In its statement, Google emphasized that it aims to offer users more app store options, create new opportunities for developers, and maintain Android’s security standards. In addition, the company reiterated that it will continue to comply with the current decision of the US court.
The legal fight between Google and Epic moved to a new stage after the antitrust case concluded at the end of 2023. In October 2024, Judge James Donato ruled that Google Play must be opened to rival app stores in order to address Google’s illegal monopoly on Android app distribution. The decision involved not only distributing third-party stores through the Play Store, but also sharing the Google Play app catalog with these stores under certain conditions. Google had taken various legal initiatives to delay the implementation of this decision.
Third-party stores will be included in Google Play
Google and Epic reached a comprehensive settlement that ended their previously ongoing legal disputes on a global scale. According to information in the US press, it is claimed that this agreement is worth approximately 800 million dollars. Despite this, Judge Donato did not favor the “Registered App Stores” model proposed by Google, which envisaged users installing stores by sideloading instead of the Play Store. While the parties are expected to discuss this issue in court again, it seems that the hearing has lost much of its importance with the withdrawal of the joint application.
As part of the new regulation, Google began notifying developers in the US that their apps and games will be automatically made available to third-party app stores as of July 22. Developers who do not want to be included in this system will be able to opt out within a certain period of time. In addition, Google has also launched a new registration page called “Play Catalog Access Program” for third-party stores to apply.
Third-party stores will have to pay an annual fee of $5,000 to access the Google Play catalog. Google states that this fee is charged for security and policy reviews. In addition, there are various conditions such as stores operating only within the United States, being open to all eligible developers, implementing non-discriminatory security and content policies, and keeping the malware rate below 1 percent of installation attempts.
Google’s global plan envisages a different structure from the USA. The company had previously announced that it would launch the “Registered App Store” program worldwide with the new Android version to be released later in the year. Accordingly, while third-party stores are directly included in the Play Store in the USA, users in other countries will need to install registered stores using different methods. This may lead to the emergence of regionally different application distribution models in the Android ecosystem.
On the other hand, it is not yet clear what kind of economic model will be formed regarding application distribution, payment infrastructures and revenue sharing. Despite this, after the Epic Games case, Google’s opening of Play Store to external payment systems and loosening of restrictions on application stores indicate that changes that will increase competition in the Android ecosystem will continue. While more distribution options are expected for developers, users’ easier access to different application stores may also significantly change the Android experience in the coming period.
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