Google to Allow Downloads of Third-Party App Stores Within the Play Store
Including Epic Games Requirements
Years-Long Antitrust Lawsuit Nears Conclusion
Starting next week, Google will allow U.S. users to download third-party app stores within the Google Play Store. This is in compliance with a court order stemming from an antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the developer of "Fortnite." The years-long legal battle between the two sides is also expected to come to a close soon.
According to Bloomberg on July 15 (local time), Google announced in documents filed with a federal court in California that it has withdrawn its request to amend the final judgment. As a result, the company will comply with court orders requiring measures such as allowing competing app stores within the Play Store.
Previously, U.S. District Judge James Donato ordered Google to allow competitors' app stores to be downloaded inside the Play Store to increase options for Android users. Google had proposed in March that, instead of using the Play Store, users could install alternative app stores through a registration process on the Android operating system. However, the court rejected this proposal.
Nancy Rose, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and court-appointed economist, pointed out, "Most users are accustomed to searching for apps in the Play Store," adding that simply offering competing app stores outside the Play Store would not create meaningful competition.
Google explained that it withdrew its proposal "to prevent ongoing uncertainty in the ecosystem" and pledged to continue complying with other court orders. Epic Games has not issued a separate statement.
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The legal conflict between Google and Epic Games began about six years ago. In 2020, Epic Games introduced its own payment system in protest against the 30% app commission charged by Google and Apple, which led to Fortnite being removed from the app stores and ignited the dispute.
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