Epic and Google Settle Antitrust Case With Global Fee Cuts and Easier Third-Party Store Access

Epic Games and Google have agreed to settle their long-running antitrust lawsuit. The settlement converts Judge James Donato's United States-only injunction into a global agreement extending through June 2032. Google will reduce its standard app store fees to either 20% or 9% depending on the transaction type.

The company will also create a program in the next major Android release allowing alternative app stores to register and become what Google calls first-class citizens. Users will be able to install these registered app stores from a website with a single click using neutral language.

The settlement addresses Epic's concerns about friction and scare screens that discouraged sideloading. Google will charge a 5% fee for transactions using Google Play Billing, separate from its service fee. Alternative payment options must be shown alongside Google Play Billing.

Yay!

[StormReaver]

That will be a HUGE improvement. Thank you, Epic!

Re:Yay!

[Powercntrl]

It's actually a step backwards. Previously, you could offer an alternative app store through sideloading and do whatever you want. Now, Google is saying:

"You have to register with us, but we'll take away the scary screen. But you don't want to do that, do you? Keep your apps where the eyeballs are, right here on the Play Store, and we'll cut you a sweet deal on our fees! That is what you really wanted anyway, right?"

Essentially, Google is taking a page out of Apple's book, because they don't ever want the possibility of some competitor's app store gaining any real traction on their platform.

Bad terms

[RegistrationIsDumb83]

It's not even that good of a deal -- apparently there's also a 5% fee, so devs will still be paying 25% on some transactions instead of 30%. Most egregiously, Google is allowed to change service fees on third party payment methods. Seriously? Fuck off, Google. And none of this stops the developer signing requirements that will likely hamper ad block developers and anyone else Google doesn't want to give keys to.

Re:

[kqs]

Linux phones have been available in the past; I assume you can still get them. The question is: are they better, or just more ideologically pure? Because ideology makes you feel all warm and special, but is kinda shitty at paying the bills. Or actually working.

Re:

[StormReaver]

Sure, but you had to sideload it, which made it essentially nonexistent. And Android would still throw up the, "Beware! There be dragons here!" warning. All of that is now gone.

The only reason 20% seems low

[Tony Isaac]

Is because the former 30% rate was so obscenely high. Even Amazon "only" charges 15% to sell through its marketplace.

wait, they did this already?

[drinkypoo]

"The company will also create a program in the next major Android release allowing alternative app stores to register and become what Google calls first-class citizens."

They did this already in Android 12. Third party app stores could even do automated background updates. Did they undo it?

Re:

[StormReaver]

They didn't undo it. It was a localized feature before. Now it's global.

Re:

[kwalker]

They did this already in Android 12. Third party app stores could even do automated background updates. Did they undo it?

No, they didn't. What they did was allow side-loaded apps in Android 12 to not pop-up the stupid install confirmation constantly. Fdroid and the like were able to download and install apps without all the user confirmation.

This looks like a response to the Keep Android Open [keepandroidopen.org] campaign, which itself is a response to Google's regressive announcement a couple of months ago that they're going to block side-loading in that same version of Android.

Re:

[drinkypoo]

I approve of this campaign, which I'm just now hearing about. I have complained about their intentions regarding side loading here previously. I am frankly boggling about it, as it is really the most meaningful difference between the platforms.