Google, known for its tight control over the Play Store, is now making adjustments under court orders after losing an antitrust case to Epic Games. The tech company has started to loosen developer restrictions, allowing them more flexibility in guiding users outside the Play Store ecosystem. This move marks a significant shift, as Google historically made changes at its own discretion until this ruling.
The antitrust dispute traces back to Epic Games’ decision to bypass Google’s payment system for Fortnite content sales. Unlike its case against Apple, Epic prevailed against Google, highlighting the tech giant’s actions that hindered the growth of alternative Android app stores. As a result, developers can now utilize external payment platforms and direct users to non-Google sources for app downloads and payments in the US Play Store.
Google emphasizes that these alterations are specific to the US Play Store, aligning with the court’s jurisdiction. The company clarifies its commitment to compliance only for the duration of the court order, which expires in 2027. Despite this concession, Google remains hopeful of reversing the ruling before facing more extensive modifications.
Source: Ars Technica