Google Ordered to Support Alternative App Stores and Payment Methods in Play Store

Epic Games has successfully forced Google to change its Play Store business model following the conclusion of a 2020 antitrust lawsuit. A U.S. judge today decided that the Google Play Store has an illegal monopoly, and Google has been ordered make multiple changes as a result, reports Reuters.

play store google
Google will need to allow Android users to download rival app stores like the ‌Epic Games‌ Store from within Google Play, plus it is required to allow third-party app stores to distribute Google Play apps, unless developers opt out of providing their apps through the alternative app stores.

Further, Google can no longer require developers to use Google Pay Billing for apps that are sold through the Google Play Store, which means that app developers will be able to offer alternative payment methods that do not give Google a cut of app sales.

Developers will also be able to link to alternative installation options in their apps, and will be able to let customers know about other ways to make purchases. Google is prohibited from offering carriers and device makers a financial incentive to preinstall the Play Store, and it is not able to offer developers money to launch their apps exclusively on the Play Store.

Google can, however, charge a fee for "reasonable measures" that are implemented to preserve user safety and security related to apps and app stores downloaded through Google Play.

‌Epic Games‌ sued Google alongside Apple back in 2020, but the ‌Epic Games‌ v. Google lawsuit went differently from the ‌Epic Games‌ v. Apple lawsuit. While Apple won and was not declared a monopolist, Google lost to ‌Epic Games‌. Late last year, a nine-member jury ruled in Epic Games' favor, and said that Google had abused its power by charging developers unreasonable fees and operating an app store monopoly. While Google said that changes to the Play Store would be a hardship due to the time and money required, the judge overseeing the case was not swayed.

Google has to keep these changes in place for three years, starting on November 1, 2024. In a blog post, Google confirmed that it plans to appeal the ‌Epic Games‌ verdict, and it plans to ask the court to stay the ruling until the appeal plays out. Gogole believes the proposed changes would put consumer privacy and security at risk, make it harder for developers to promote their apps, and reduce competition on devices.

Google says that while the changes will satisfy ‌Epic Games‌, the unintended consequences will "harm American consumers, developers and device makers." Google's blog post further explains the reasons why it will appeal.

Google is also facing another ‌Epic Games‌ lawsuit, which was filed last week. ‌Epic Games‌ accused Google and Samsung of colluding to prevent sideloading on Galaxy devices through the Auto Blocker safety feature, though ‌Epic Games‌ CEO Tim Sweeney has confirmed that there is as of now no proof that the two companies worked together to limit sideloading on Samsung smartphones.

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

'New' iPhone SE Product Listing Appears on French Website

Wednesday February 12, 2025 6:49 am PST by
As the wait continues for Apple's long-rumored, fourth-generation iPhone SE, French electronics retailer Boulanger has prematurely published a product listing for a "new" model of the iPhone SE. The placeholder page says the device is "coming soon," but it offers no further information, and the price shown is obviously not real. The listing was spotted by a reader of the French technology...
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
m2 macbook air blue

M4 MacBook Air Release Continues to Appear Imminent

Monday February 10, 2025 10:56 am PST by
There continue to be signs of a new MacBook Air with an M4 chip, indicating that we could see the machine launch in the not too distant future. A private account on X today shared the identifiers that the MacBook Air will use, and those identifiers correspond to the M4 chip. According to the source, both the 13-inch MacBook Air and the 15-inch MacBook Air will be equipped with Apple's...
oppo find n5 fingers

World's Thinnest Foldable Phone Launches Next Week

Monday February 10, 2025 3:05 am PST by
Oppo has confirmed a February 20 global launch for its Find N5, which the company claims is the world's thinnest device in the foldable phone category. The phone is expected to be re-branded as the OnePlus Open 2 in the US. The Chinese vendor has been teasing the device in the last few weeks, touting its waterproofing and nearly invisible display crease, and highlighting its thinness by compa...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.3.1

Monday February 10, 2025 10:04 am PST by
Apple today released watchOS 11.3.1, a minor update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.3.1 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.3.1 can be downloaded by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

What to Expect From the 'Apple Launch' Next Week

Thursday February 13, 2025 11:48 am PST by
Apple has yet to announce any new devices this year, but that could change starting next week. Apple CEO Tim Cook today said to "get ready" for a "launch" on Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," said Cook, in a social media post. The post includes an #AppleLaunch hashtag, along with a short video featuring an animated Apple logo inside of a circle....
sequoia

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.3.1

Monday February 10, 2025 10:11 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.3.1, a minor update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that came out last September. macOS 15.3.1 comes a few weeks after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. Apple has also released macOS 13.7.4 and macOS 14.7.4 for those who are...
Apple Ad on X

Apple Resumes Advertising on X

Wednesday February 12, 2025 2:18 pm PST by
Apple this month started advertising on X for the first time in more than a year. The company had stopped advertising on the social media platform in November 2023 following controversial remarks made by its owner Elon Musk. For example, the @Apple account is running an ad promoting Safari's privacy features. The ad was spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The @AppleTV account has a...
M4 mini Glowing Blue

Apple Begins Selling Refurbished M4 Macs

Wednesday February 12, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today added MacBook Pro and Mac mini models with M4 series chips to its certified refurbished store in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland for the first time since the computers were introduced in October 2024. Some refurbished MacBook Pro models with M4 chips are also available in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and select other European countries. ...

Top Rated Comments

SanderEvers Avatar
18 weeks ago

As a developer, I honestly hope one of these happens:
- 30% cut is removed
- Alternative payment methods everywhere

I believe letting the user use their card linked to their Apple Account is an ease of use thing, and having alternative payment methods might start complicating things.
"-30% cut is removed" So a developer of a platform is not allowed to profit off of that platform? Why?

"- Alternative payment methods everywhere" Which means it would be extremely easy to get your credit card / bank account stolen by a bad actor with their own "payment method". You see already thousands of those on the internet. Do you want people to get scammed more easily? Because that is what you'll get.

I want a device with one way of installing apps. So I can be certain those apps are safe. I want also ONE way to pay on that device for those apps. So I know who has access to my data if something bad happens. (legally)
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macmyworld Avatar
18 weeks ago
Pound sand Epic. Google and Apple built the devices and infrastructure. You may not like it and you can build your own. Epic is turning into a patent troll.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
icanhazmac Avatar
18 weeks ago

Google will need to allow Android users to download rival app stores like the Epic Games Store from within Google Play
Ouch, that seems like massive overreach. Allowing alt-stores is a far cry from being forced to provide the download.

I know people don't like brick and mortar analogies but will Walmart be forced to have an Amazon kiosk in-store?


plus it is required to allow third-party app stores to distribute Google Play apps, unless developers opt out of providing their apps through the alternative app stores
Also seems like overreach, devs must opt-out of alt-stores instead of opt-in? Seems very convoluted. Waking up one morning to find your app in the Epic store when you didn't want it there is unacceptable.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spazzcat Avatar
18 weeks ago

As a developer, I honestly hope one of these happens:
- 30% cut is removed
- Alternative payment methods everywhere

I believe letting the user use their card linked to their Apple Account is an ease of use thing, and having alternative payment methods might start complicating things.
Neither one of these will help you, 30% supports that platform and the tools you use, as a user I am not buying stuff from you if I can't use App Store.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
schlitzz Avatar
18 weeks ago
And on appeal, Google will continue to state that Epic should develop its own software & hardware platform. Make its own stuff. Problem solved.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macsimcon Avatar
18 weeks ago
You know, Chevy parts won't work in my Toyota. Nor will BMW parts. Does that make both those car companies monopolies? Nope, and it's a ridiculous notion to suggest that. Google and Apple aren't monopolies; if you don't like iOS, switch to Android. But it's not these two company's fault that they ended up a duopoly. Hell, if Google hadn't dumped Android's original design once they saw the iPhone, Apple might have become a monopoly. But that's not what happened.

Consumers voted with their wallets. Sony, Microsoft, Palm, RIM...they all tried, but they weren't giving customers what the customers wanted. So now we have Android and iOS.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)