Google and Epic announce settlement to end app store antitrust case
Google is rewriting the rules for mobile apps, spurred by ongoing lawsuits and an apparent desire to crack down on perceived security weaknesses. Late last year, Google and Epic concocted a settlement that would end the long-running antitrust dispute stemming from Fortnite costs. The parties announced an updated version of the agreement, featuring new changes aimed at appeasing US courts and putting the whole mess in the rearview mirror. The bottom line is that Android will get more app stores and developers will pay lower fees.
A US court ruled against Google in this case in 2023, and the remedies announced in 2024 threatened to upend Google’s Play Store model. He tried unsuccessfully to have the verdict overturned, but then Epic came to the rescue. In late 2025, the companies announced a settlement that ignored numerous court orders.
Epic executives have expressed interest in leveling the playing field for all developers on the Android platform. But U.S. District Judge James Donato expressed skepticism about the deal in January, noting that it may have been a “sweetheart deal” that would have benefited Epic more than other developers. Details of the deal were not fully disclosed, but it included lower Play Store fees, cross-licensing, attorney fees, and other partnership offerings.
It appears that both companies want to close this matter. For Epic, it all started as a way to avoid paying Google a 30% cut of its budget. Fortnite purchases – the game has been banned from the Play Store for all this time. Google, meanwhile, is in the midst of a major shift in Android app distribution with its Developer Verification program. After all these years, the end is in sight. Thus, the new regulation includes more explicit limits on Play Store fees and resurrects one of Donato’s most ambitious remedies.
The “new era” of Google applications
Representatives from Epic and Google both expressed enthusiastic support for the recently announced settlement, which is subject to Judge Donato’s approval. The parties say the deal will resolve their dispute globally, not just in the United States.
The regulation states that Play Store developers will be able to direct users to other payment methods. This is what had Fortnite pulled from the Play Store (and Apple App Store) in 2020. When developers choose to use Google’s billing platform, they will also pay lower fees.
