The ACCC granted Google and Epic a six-year authorization covering Google Play service fees and rules governing alternative payment options inside Android apps sold in Australia.
On August 27, 2026, a class action lawsuit was filed in San Mateo County Superior Court by three California gamers—Alexander Shimota, Ricardo Camargo, and John Elliott—against Valve Corporation and ten video game publishers, accusing them of colluding to maintain uniform pricing for PC games across digital storefronts. The lawsuit alleges that Valve requires publishers on its Steam platform to agree to a most-favored-nation clause, preventing them from offering lower prices on competing platforms, which stifles competition and limits consumer choice. The ten implicated publishers include Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Sony Interactive Entertainment. The lawsuit is filed under California's Cartwright Act and claims that the coordinated pricing strategy harms consumers by reducing product diversity and inflating prices. Valve's commission structure, which has largely remained unchanged, is central to the plaintiffs' argument. Valve's co-founder, Gabe Newell, has previously denied dictating prices to third-party developers. The lawsuit is distinct from a prior case, Wolfire Games v. Valve, which focuses on monopoly abuse against developers rather than consumer pricing. Additionally, Valve faces a parallel £2 billion class action in the UK regarding similar pricing allegations. The outcome of these cases could significantly impact the pricing landscape for PC games and the practices of digital storefronts.
Alphabet's Google has announced a transformation in app distribution on Android devices, allowing external companies to register and launch their own app stores by paying a one-time fee. This change aims to enhance accessibility for competitors and lower costs for developers. Google will reduce its standard commission for developers from 30% to as low as 15% or 10% in some cases, with implementation expected by June in the US, UK, and EU, and similar changes in Australia, South Korea, and Japan by the end of 2026. Developers using Google’s billing services will incur a flat fee of 5%, while they can also opt for third-party payment processors. Epic Games has expressed approval of these changes, which they believe will help resolve ongoing litigation. Google generated approximately .66 billion in sales from its app marketplace in 2020, and regulatory changes could reduce its gross profit by around billion. The European Commission has accused Google of violating the Digital Markets Act, which could lead to fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue. Google has previously faced €9.5 billion in fines for competition law violations. A US jury ruled in 2023 that certain Android policies violated antitrust law, leading to an injunction requiring Google to allow competing app stores access to its app catalog. Despite regulatory pressures, Google stated that the changes to the developer fee structure were voluntary and not mandated by legal rulings.
Tim Sweeney of Epic Games has criticized revenue sharing on digital storefronts, leading to the creation of the Epic Game Store, which charges a 12% fee to developers. Legal actions against Apple and Google resulted in them allowing alternative storefronts for games. Valve maintains a 30% commission on Steam, prompting antitrust lawsuits from developers in the U.S. in 2021, which were consolidated into a class action approved in November 2024. In the UK, Vicki Shotbolt is leading a legal case against Valve, alleging violations of competition laws, with a court ruling allowing the case to proceed to trial. Shotbolt argues that Valve's 30% revenue share inflates prices for consumers and that its price parity requirement restricts developers from offering lower prices on other platforms. She emphasizes the need for fair cooperation in the gaming ecosystem and highlights Valve's market dominance, which pressures developers to use Steam. If successful, the class action could seek up to £656 million in damages for UK consumers and aims for a more equitable profit-sharing model between Valve and developers.
A judge has ruled against Valve's attempt to dismiss a class action lawsuit regarding allegations of overcharging and anti-competitive practices, allowing the case, initiated by lawyer Vicki Shotbolt on behalf of 14 million UK Steam users, to proceed. The lawsuit claims Valve's policies violate UK laws on anti-competitive pricing and unfair trading conditions, particularly regarding its restrictions on pricing and additional content sales on competing platforms. Valve's objections to the lawsuit were dismissed by the Competition Appeal Tribunal, which found that the proposed class definition had been adequately revised. The lawsuit seeks £656 million in restitution for UK users.
Plaintiffs John Suddeth and Sara Perkins have filed a class action lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. in a California federal court, alleging that Meta unlawfully used the names, images, voices, and personas of financial professionals in paid advertisements. The lawsuit claims this conduct has misappropriated identities and contributed to fraudulent investment schemes involving thinly traded securities based in China, violating several legal statutes including the Lanham Act and California and Florida publicity laws. The plaintiffs argue that the process for creating paid advertisements on Meta's platforms has facilitated the unauthorized use of these identities. They allege that Meta ignored warnings from state attorneys general about the proliferation of impersonation ads. The lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide class of affected financial professionals, demanding a jury trial and various forms of damages. The case is titled Suddeth, et al. v. Meta Platforms Inc., et al., and is registered as Case No. 5:25-cv-08581 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Google has approached the Supreme Court regarding an antitrust case that could significantly impact India's digital economy, particularly concerning its dominance over the Android operating system and the requirement for app developers to use Google's payment systems, which can impose commissions of 15-30%. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) found Google to be a dominant entity, concluding that its practices constituted abuse of power, resulting in a penalty of ₹936 crores. Google appealed this decision, leading to a reduced penalty of ₹217 crores from the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which did not classify Google as a "gatekeeper." Google has since filed additional appeals with the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the case in November.
A study on Indian farmers revealed that extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 43°C, significantly impacts their livelihoods, leading to increased food insecurity and undernutrition. While average calorie consumption remained stable, the incidence of "strong undernutrition" rose, affecting approximately 3 million individuals. The study found that extreme heat forces families to seek non-farm employment and adapt their food sources, often leading to a decline in job retention and increased vulnerability due to limited access to credit. The findings suggest that climate change is exacerbating challenges in Indian agriculture, necessitating policy interventions to enhance resilience and support affected households.
India's cabinet approved a one-time ₹300 billion payout to state-run fuel retailers to compensate for losses from selling subsidized LPG. Tata Motors reported a 63% year-on-year drop in Q1 consolidated profit, while Nayara faced scrutiny over Russian oil imports. The Supreme Court upheld a ruling classifying telecom towers as movable property, providing tax relief for telecom companies. Tesla India signed a nine-year lease for a showroom in Delhi, marking its expansion into the Indian market.
The European Commission has classified Facebook Messenger as a core platform service under the EU's Digital Markets Act. Meta argues that this classification fails to recognize the app's integration within the broader Facebook ecosystem, asserting that understanding its functionality requires considering its relationship with the Facebook platform. Meta's response indicates the complexities in defining digital services as regulatory frameworks evolve.
Ubisoft's lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit from California gamers, arguing that players do not have an inherent expectation of ownership after purchasing a game. This lawsuit follows the retirement of the online game The Crew in 2024, ten years after its release. Ubisoft's legal team stated that the game's closure was communicated on the product packaging and noted that the plaintiffs' claims include violations of California’s False Advertising Law, Unfair Competition Law, and the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, as well as accusations of common law fraud and breach of warranty. The plaintiffs have amended their complaint to include a claim regarding unspent in-game currency, suggesting it may violate state law requiring gift cards to retain validity indefinitely.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support allegations against Microsoft regarding anticompetitive behavior related to its antivirus software, Microsoft Defender, which has been bundled with Windows since 2015. The CCI emphasized that users can install alternative antivirus solutions, maintaining a competitive market.
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