Google and Epic Games Reach Agreement on Antitrust Dispute
Google and Epic Games have come to a joint plan in San Francisco federal court that aims to put an end to their antitrust dispute and establish new rules for Android and Google Play.
According to Engadget, the companies have submitted a proposal for an updated court order that outlines how developers can now accept payments through their own systems within apps and via external links, all while meeting Google’s security standards. The plan also sets out the maximum fees for these transactions at either 9% or 20% and establishes fair criteria for third-party app store access. Stores that meet these criteria will be able to coexist with the Play Store without any added obstacles for users.
In a statement, Android president Samir Samat expressed that the proposed changes will provide developers with more options and lower fees, all while ensuring user safety. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the plan as a step towards a more open Android ecosystem and making it easier for competing stores to be installed globally. However, the fee restrictions for third-party payment systems will primarily apply to new app installations, which is crucial for developers with a large existing user base.
The Epic v. Google case was initiated in 2020 over accusations of monopolistic practices in app distribution and billing on Android. The jury ruled in favor of Epic in late 2023, and Google’s appeal was unsuccessful in July 2025. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt Judge Donato’s order, which prohibits payments for Play Store exclusivity, mandates the allowance of third-party stores on Android, and prevents the enforcement of Google’s payment system on users.
If the court approves the proposed plan, it will mark the end of the lengthy legal battle between the two companies and the implementation of the new regulations within the Google and Android ecosystem.
Earlier, dev.ua reported on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to suspend the permanent injunction in the Epic Games v. Google case, with Google expected to comply with the court’s directives by October.