Epic and Google’s Five-Year Antitrust Battle Concludes with Settlement
Google and Epic Games Inc. have settled a protracted legal dispute over app revenue distribution and payment practices on Android devices. The resolution, filed in a San Francisco federal court, follows significant court-ordered reforms to Google’s Play Store operations.
U.S. District Judge James Donato mandated Google to allow alternative app stores and payment methods on Android, while prohibiting preferential treatment for its own services. Developers now retain the right to steer users toward lower-cost payment options outside the Play Store—a move poised to erode Google’s commission revenue.
The settlement preserves most court-imposed requirements with minor adjustments. Neither party disclosed financial terms, but both confirmed plans to refine the earlier order under their agreement.
