Google Play will carry rival app stores on July 22

Google says it will begin distributing third-party app stores in Google Play on July 22, after withdrawing an effort to modify the antitrust remedies imposed in its case with Epic Games. The shift follows the collapse of a proposed settlement change that would have replaced Play Store distribution with a broader Registered App Store program.

The case dates back to 2020, when Epic added a direct payment option to Fortnite to avoid the 30 percent fees charged by Apple and Google on purchases such as V-Bucks. Fortnite was removed from both app stores, triggering the legal fight. In Google’s case, the court found the company had used its position to discourage device makers from promoting or preloading rival app stores, helping entrench Google Play as the main software source for most Android users.

Judge James Donato’s remedies included lower fees, app mirroring across stores, and, crucially, the ability for alternative app stores to be listed inside Google Play itself. Google and Epic later tried to revise that outcome in a late 2025 settlement, but Judge Donato had already expressed doubts in early 2026, and an expert analysis from MIT economics professor Nancy Rose said the proposed changes were unlikely to help rivals overcome Google Play’s network effects quickly enough.

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Google said the broader settlement between it and Epic remains in place, but the companies are no longer seeking to change the court’s injunction. Dan Jackson, Google’s Trust and Reputation Communications Lead, said the company withdrew the motion rather than prolonging uncertainty and would continue rolling out policy changes tied to the agreement while complying with the court order.

“We’ve agreed with Epic to withdraw our motion to modify the US Court’s injunction rather than prolonging this process which creates uncertainty for the ecosystem. This allows us to focus on executing our recently announced global business model evolution to deliver greater app store choice, lower prices, and more opportunities for developers and users. We remain committed to maintaining Android’s industry-leading security and fostering a competitive ecosystem where every app store and developer has the freedom to compete. In parallel, we continue to comply with the US Court’s injunction.”

Rules for third-party stores in Google Play

Under the original injunction, approved third-party stores will get access to the full catalog of Google Play apps by default, though developers can opt out. Google says stores seeking access must meet several requirements:

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• Pay $5,000 per year for security and compliance review
• Block malware
• Respect intellectual property
• Include app update and uninstall mechanisms

Google says a store can be removed if more than 1 percent of attempted app installs appear to be malware or unwanted software. The company is also barred from unreasonably blocking third-party store clients submitted to Google Play.

For now, Registered App Stores are still moving ahead globally, but app stores listed directly inside Google Play will likely be limited to US users. Google has not yet explained whether stores downloaded through Play will get different features from registered stores distributed outside it.

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