Third-party app stores coming to Google Play next week as Epic settlement withdrawn
Following the withdrawal of a settlement between Google and Epic Games, Google is now required to allow third-party app stores within the Google Play Store. This change stems from antitrust rulings regarding Google's anti-competitive practices in the Android ecosystem.
Why it matters
This represents a major shift in mobile software distribution, potentially breaking Google's monopoly on Android app revenue and increasing competition for developers.
App stores within app stores Third-party app stores coming to Google Play next week as Epic settlement withdrawn With the settlement withdrawn, Google is now bound by the court’s full antitrust remedies.
39 Credit: Getty Images | Kirill Kudryavtsev Credit: Getty Images | Kirill Kudryavtsev Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Big changes are coming to Android apps, but they’re not the changes Google wanted. The settlement between Google and Epic that aimed to put to rest the companies’ long-running antitrust battle is being withdrawn, and that means third-party app stores are coming to the Play Store. Google has confirmed that it will begin distributing rival app stores next week, setting the stage for competing platforms to take a bite out of Google’s Android revenue stream.
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