Google Must Allow Third-Party Android App Stores Starting Next Week
Google and Epic Games withdrew settlement, mandating third-party app stores on Android.
Why it matters: This decision will reshape app distribution and compliance policies on Android, critical for legal tech firms and in-house counsel navigating platform governance.
- On July 15, 2026, Google and Epic Games jointly withdrew their lawsuit settlement attempt.
- Google must allow rival third-party app stores on its platform starting next week.
- Google reduced Play Store commissions to 20% on in-app purchases in March 2026.
- The 'Registered App Stores program' enables alternative app stores meeting quality standards.
- The Ninth Circuit ruled Google’s Play Store an illegal monopoly in July 2025.
On July 15, 2026, Google and Epic Games jointly withdrew their attempt to settle their longstanding legal battle over Google's Play Store policies. This withdrawal triggers a significant change: Google will be obligated to carry rival third-party Android app stores on its platform starting next week.
The legal dispute, which began in 2020 when Epic contested Google's in-app purchase billing system, resulted in several pivotal rulings. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in July 2025 upheld that Google's Play Store acted as an illegal monopoly, suppressing competition.
Following this, Google agreed in March 2026 to reduce its Play Store commission fees to 20% on in-app purchases, down from previous rates, along with an additional 5% fee for developers opting to use Google's billing system — a move reported by TechCrunch. Furthermore, Google introduced the 'Registered App Stores program' to allow users easier access to alternative app stores that meet specific quality and safety criteria.
Epic's Fortnite made a notable return to the U.S. Google Play Store in December 2025 after a court partially reversed prior restrictions, illustrating the evolving state of app store governance (TechCrunch).
The forced inclusion of third-party app stores within the Google Play ecosystem will reshape how app distribution and regulatory compliance function on Android devices, influencing legal tech companies and in-house counsels advising clients on platform governance and compliance frameworks.
By the numbers:
- 20% — Google’s reduced Play Store commission on in-app purchases as of March 2026
- 5% — Additional fee if developers use Google’s billing system post-settlement
- July 15, 2026 — Date Google and Epic withdrew settlement attempts, triggering new platform obligations