Google and Epic Games have spent years in court over allegations of antitrust practices against the former. Now, it looks like there may be an end in sight.
Google and Epic Games have announced a new proposal that would open up Android to third-party app stores and potentially end their ongoing dispute. The proposal is currently pending court approval.
Sameer Samat, the president of the Android ecosystem at Google, shared the news in a statement on X, saying:
“Exciting news! Together with Epic Games we have filed a proposed set of changes to Android and Google Play that focus on expanding developer choice and flexibility, lowering fees, and encouraging more competition all while keeping users safe. If approved, this would resolve our litigations.”
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney echoed this sentiment, calling Google’s proposal “awesome” in a post of his own. He added,
“This is a comprehensive solution, which stands in contrast to Apple’s model of blocking all competing stores and leaving payments as the only vector for competition.”
If the court approves, these changes could mark a significant shift in the Android app ecosystem, promoting greater competition and freedom for developers and users alike.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146692/google-android-app-store-third-party-proposal
