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. This proposal still requires court approval to move forward.
Sameer Samat, the president of the Android ecosystem at Google, shared the news in a statement on X. He said, “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 also expressed support for the proposal, calling it “awesome” in a post of his own. He described the plan as “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 approved by the court, these changes could mark a significant shift in the Android ecosystem, promoting greater competition and developer freedom while addressing concerns raised throughout the lengthy legal battle.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146692/google-android-app-store-third-party-proposal