Epic Games and Google have dropped their joint settlement motion. Google now says alternative app stores on Android devices will start getting support on July 22.
The change gives third-party U.S. app stores a clearer path into the Google Play ecosystem. It also puts a $5,000 annual access fee in front of marketplaces that want in.
Google Play Store support July 22
Google said in a court filing that it plans to begin supporting alternative app stores on July 22. It also said third-party U.S. app stores will be able to distribute the Google Play catalog of apps.
For users, that means app discovery on Android in the U.S. can move beyond one storefront. For developers, it means distribution can reach more than one marketplace while still running through the Google Play system.
Google has already published a guide on the process for third-party U.S. app stores, which gives developers and marketplace operators a map of the rules before the change takes effect.
October 2024 injunction and fees
The shift follows a permanent injunction issued in October 2024 that requires Google to allow alternative app stores on Android devices. A jury found that Google abused its power by operating an app store monopoly and charging developers fees that were too high.
Google says apps downloaded through alternative stores will still use the Google Play system, and it will collect its service fee on transactions from those apps. The company will also charge alternative marketplaces a $5,000 annual access fee.
That setup opens the door to more storefronts, but it does not remove Google from the transaction path. A marketplace may get distribution access, yet the underlying billing and fee structure still runs through Google.
Google and Epic Games withdraw
Google said it withdrew the motion to modify the US Court's injunction to avoid a prolonged legal fight. In the same statement, it said it remains committed to maintaining Android's security and a competitive ecosystem for app stores and developers.
That statement also drew a line between the injunction and Google's separate fee cuts and alternative payment options. Those changes continue, but they are separate from the requirement to support third-party marketplaces in the Play Store.
Google and Epic Games sued at the same time that Epic Games sued Apple. Apple was ordered to allow link-outs and alternative payment options in the U.S. in 2021, and Apple has appealed to the Supreme Court, which will hear its argument in late 2026 or early 2027.
For operators of rival Android stores, July 22 is the practical starting line. For anyone planning to build or use a marketplace, the first question now is how many stores will pay the fee and move through Google's process rather than wait on a separate path; Epic Games halts Fortnite for July 16 update remains a reminder that app distribution changes can hit live services quickly, and Epic Games restarts Fortnite servers shows how fast those service windows can open and close.
