Google vs Epic Games ends with Android app stores, lower fees

The long-running Google vs Epic Games dispute has finally come to an end, with Google today announcing new changes to Android that include better support for third-party app stores and changes to Google Play.

Detailed in a blog post as well as by Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat on Twitter/X, Google is making three major changes to Android, how app stores are supported, and the impact of fees on the Play Store.

Firstly, Google emphasizes changes to billing choice, with Android developers able to use Google Play billing alongside their own billing systems, including linking to their external websites. Google says:

Google Play is giving developers even more billing choice and freedom in how they handle transactions. Mobile developers will have the option to use their own billing systems in their app alongside Google Play’s billing, or they can guide users outside of their app to their own websites for purchases. Our goal is to offer this flexibility in a way that maximizes choice and safety for users.

In a bigger reveal, Google is showing how it plans to expand support for third-party app stores in Android going forward. Specifically, Google is rolling out a program for “sideloading qualified app stores.” A new installation flow will show if a third-party app store has been registered “with Android” while also showing what the store will be capable of and linking to relevant terms of service, privacy policies, and customer support.

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This new flow (pictured above) will make it easier to install third-party app stores on Android, but only for those who register with Google. App stores that choose not to participate in the “optional program” can still be installed via sideloading, but with all of the same restrictions that exist today.

Google says this will start outside of the United States, but with plans to bring it to the States, subject to court approval.

Finally, Google also details a new structure for Google Play fees. A 5% fee will apply for Play Billing in the US, UK, and the European Economic Area, while Service Fees will range from 10-20% depending on the purchase. Google explains:

Billing: For those developers who choose to use Google Play’s billing system, they will be charged a market-specific rate separate from the service fee. In the European Economic Area (EEA), UK, and US that rate will be 5%.

Service Fees:

For new installs (first time installs from users after the new fees are launched in a region), we are reducing the in-app purchase (IAP) service fee to 20%.

We are launching an Apps Experience Program and revamping our Google Play Games Level Up program to incentivize building great software experiences across Android form factors associated with clear quality benchmarks and enhanced user benefits. Those developers who choose to participate in these programs will have even lower rates. Participating IAP developers will have a 20% service fee for transactions from existing installs and a 15% fee on transactions from new app installs.

Our service fee for recurring subscriptions will be 10%.

Google says that these fee changes will start rolling out on June 30 in the US, UK, and EEA, in Australia by September 30, in Korea and Japan by December 31, and to the rest of the world by September 30 of 2027.

“Registered App Stores,” meanwhile, arrive with “a major Android release by the end of the year,” i.e., Android 17 or one of its maintenance releases.