Google has ordered support for alternative app stores and payment methods on the Play Store

Epic Games successfully forced Google to change its Play Store business model after settling its 2020 antitrust lawsuit. A US judge today decided that the Google Play Store had an illegal monopoly, and as a result, Google was ordered to make numerous changes, a report says. Reuters.

Google will have to allow Android users to download competing app stores such as the “Epic Games” store from Google Play, and will also have to allow third-party app stores to distribute apps from Google Play unless developers opt out of providing their apps in an alternative way app stores.

Furthermore, Google can no longer require developers to use Google Pay billing for apps sold on the Google Play Store, which means app developers will be able to offer alternative payment methods that don’t give Google a cut of app sales.

Developers will also be able to include links to alternative installation options in their apps and inform customers about other ways to make purchases. Google cannot offer carriers and device manufacturers financial incentives for pre-installing the Play Store, and cannot offer developers money to run their apps exclusively on the Play Store.

However, Google may charge a fee for “reasonable measures” taken to ensure user safety and security related to apps and app stores downloaded through Google Play.

“Epic Games” sued Google along with Apple in 2020, but the “Epic Games” lawsuit against Google proceeded differently than the “Epic Games” lawsuit against Apple. While Apple won and was not declared a monopoly, Google lost to “Epic Games”. Late last year, a nine-member jury ruled in favor of Epic Games, finding that Google had abused its power by charging developers unreasonable fees and maintaining a monopoly on app stores. Although Google said changes to the Play Store would be difficult due to the time and money involved, the judge overseeing the case was not convinced.

Google must maintain these changes for three years, starting November 1, 2024. In a blog post, Google confirmed that it plans to appeal the “Epic Games” ruling and plans to ask the court to suspend the ruling until the appeal plays out. Gogole believes the proposed changes would threaten consumer privacy and security, make it harder for developers to promote their apps and reduce competition on devices.

Google says that while the changes will please “Epic Games,” the unintended consequences will “harm U.S. consumers, developers and device makers.” Google’s blog post explains in detail why this will be attractive.

Google is also ahead of us other ‌Epic Games‌ lawsuit filed last week. “Epic Games” accused Google and Samsung of colluding to prevent sideloading on Galaxy devices through its Auto Blocker security feature, although Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed that there is currently no evidence that the two companies cooperated to curb sideloading on Samsung smartphones.