Epic wins against Google: Judge rules Android App Store an illegal monopoly, orders opening to third-party stores

Epic Games scored a major legal victory on Monday, just a week after filing a lawsuit against Google over its app store practices. In a pivotal ruling, a federal judge declared Google’s Android app store an illegal monopoly, ordering the tech giant to open its Google Play store to competition for the next three years.

Judge James Donato’s ruling in the Epic v. Google case mandates that Google allow third-party app stores within Google Play, giving them access to the entire Google Play app catalog, unless developers choose to opt-out. This decision aims to break Google’s tight grip on Android app distribution, giving rival app stores a chance to compete on a more level playing field.

Between November 1, 2024, and November 1, 2027, Google will also be prohibited from requiring developers to use its Google Play Billing system. Android developers will be allowed to inform users about alternative payment options within their apps, link to external app download sources, and set their own app pricing without being tied to Google Play’s billing platform.

In addition to loosening control over app distribution and payments, the ruling imposes further restrictions on Google:

• Google can no longer share app revenue with anyone who distributes Android apps or plans to launch an app store or platform.
• It’s prohibited from offering developers financial incentives to release their apps exclusively or first on Google Play.
• Google cannot offer perks to discourage developers from launching their apps on competing platforms.
• Device makers and carriers are also off-limits for Google’s financial perks aimed at ensuring Play Store preinstallation or preventing the preinstallation of rival app stores.

After many months of preparation, Epic successfully made the case that Google’s extensive deals with developers, carriers, and device manufacturers made it nearly impossible for rival app stores to emerge. By cutting off those exclusive deals and actively supporting rival stores, this ruling could pave the way for real competition to Google’s dominance in the app store space.

“Big news! The Epic Games Store and other app stores are coming to the Google Play Store in 2025 in the USA – without Google’s scare screens and Google’s 30% app tax – thanks to victory in Epic v Google,” Epic founder and CEO Tim Sweeney said in a post on X.

Big news! The Epic Games Store and other app stores are coming to the Google Play Store in 2025 in the USA – without Google's scare screens and Google's 30% app tax – thanks to victory in Epic v Google.https://t.co/1g6uuw1CJB

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) October 7, 2024

While Google will have to open the Google Play Store to competing platforms, it still retains some oversight. The ruling allows Google to implement “reasonable measures” to ensure safety and security, as long as these measures are necessary, narrowly focused, and similar to how it currently manages the Play Store. Google will also be allowed to charge a fee for this oversight. Epic has argued against allowing Google to use security as a way to undermine third-party stores, so this will likely remain a point of contention between the two companies going forward.

This landmark ruling marks a shift in the app store landscape, giving Android developers and rival platforms more freedom to operate and compete without being bound by Google’s rules.

In last week’s court filing, Epic Games accused Google and Samsung of working together to shield Google’s Play Store from competition.

Epic argues that Samsung’s Auto Blocker is an attempt to soften the blow of a U.S. court ruling from December 2023, which forced Google to make app downloads easier from sources beyond the Play Store. Epic also plans to bring its concerns to regulators in the European Union, where Google has faced scrutiny over its business practices for years.

Founded in 1991 by Mark Rein and Tim Sweeney, Epic operates Fortnite, one of the world’s largest games with over 350 million accounts and 2.5 billion friend connections. Epic also develops Unreal Engine, which powers the world’s leading games and is also adopted across industries such as film and television, architecture, automotive, manufacturing, and simulation. Through Unreal Engine, Epic Games Store, and Epic Online Services, Epic provides an end-to-end digital ecosystem for developers and creators to build, distribute, and operate games and other content.