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

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
ipad air windows 11 arm

M2 iPad Air Runs Windows 11 ARM via Emulation, Thanks to EU Rules

Tuesday April 22, 2025 5:01 am PDT by
A developer has demonstrated Windows 11 ARM running on an M2 iPad Air using emulation, which has become much easier since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations came into effect. As spotted by Windows Latest, NTDev shared an instance of the emulation on social media and posted a video on YouTube (embedded below) demonstrating it in action. The achievement relies on new EU regulatory...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...
iphone 17 pro majin bu sky blue

iPhone 17 Pro Allegedly Coming in Sky Blue Color Used for MacBook Air

Tuesday April 22, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 Pro in a new Sky Blue color, the same color that debuted on the latest M4 MacBook Air models Apple released in March. That's according to the leaker Majin Bu. Concept mockup from Majin Bu Writing on his website, Bu claims that "sources close to the supply chain confirm that several iPhone 17 Pro prototypes have been made in various colors, with Sky Blue...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...

Top Rated Comments

SanderEvers Avatar
7 months 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
7 months 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
7 months 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
7 months 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
7 months 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
7 months 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)