Google and Epic Settle Play Store Antitrust Lawsuit, Lowering Developer Fees and Opening Android to Rival App Stores

Google and Epic Games announced an updated settlement on March 4, 2026 to resolve the long-running Play Store antitrust case, which a US court decided against Google in 2023. The deal lowers Play Store developer fees and opens Android to third-party app stores, though a federal judge had previously expressed skepticism that the original settlement unfairly favored Epic over other developers. Google's updated agreement, detailed on the Android Developers Blog, is designed to satisfy court concerns by making the lower-fee and multi-store changes broadly available to all developers.

Key Takeaways

• Settlement requires Google to allow third-party app stores on Android and reduce Play Store fees; terms described as applying to all developers, not just Epic
• US District Judge James Donato previously questioned the 2025 settlement as a potential "sweetheart deal" for Epic; the updated March 2026 version aims to address those concerns
• Google had exhausted appeals from the 2023 antitrust ruling before settling; cross-licensing and attorneys' fees are also part of the arrangement

Original source: Ars Technica