Google opens Play Store to rival app marketplaces after Epic Games antitrust battle

Google is preparing to open a new route for Android users in the US to access competing app marketplaces, ending a long-running legal fight with Fortnite developer Epic Games over control of app distribution.

The Alphabet-owned company told a California federal court that it will begin allowing third-party app stores to be downloaded directly through the Google Play Store from next week. The move follows an order from US District Judge James Donato, who required Google to make rival marketplaces easier to access as part of the remedies in Epic’s antitrust case.

The decision marks a reversal of Google’s earlier attempt to modify the court’s ruling. In March, the company proposed a different system that would allow alternative app stores to operate on Android devices after completing a registration process, but without requiring them to appear inside Google Play.

Google argued that approach would provide a broader solution that could also meet regulatory requirements in regions such as Europe. However, the proposal faced criticism from an economist appointed by the court, who questioned whether users would actually find competing marketplaces if they were located outside the Play Store.

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Court pushes Google towards easier access for rivals

Nancy Rose, an economics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who reviewed Google’s proposal, said users are accustomed to finding and installing applications within the Play Store environment.

“I am not persuaded that the Registered App Store program will do the work that distribution through Google Play does,” Rose said in a report submitted on 10 July.

She argued that requiring users to leave the familiar Play Store experience, search for another website and complete a separate installation process would create additional barriers for rival app marketplaces. By contrast, making alternative stores available within Google Play would allow users to discover and install them in the same environment they already use.

Following that assessment, Google withdrew its request to revise the court’s final judgment. The company said it wanted to avoid extending the legal process and creating further uncertainty for developers and other participants in the Android ecosystem.

Epic dispute reshapes Android app distribution

The dispute between Google and Epic Games has centred on allegations that Google used its control over Android app distribution and payment systems to limit competition. Epic, the maker of the popular Fortnite game, challenged Google’s practices in a lawsuit that has become one of the most significant technology antitrust battles in recent years.

Judge Donato’s remedies aim to give Android users greater choice by making it easier for rival app stores to compete with Google Play. Google said it would continue following the remaining requirements of the court’s order.

The company’s decision represents a notable shift for the Android ecosystem, where Google Play has traditionally served as the main gateway for downloading mobile applications. While rival app stores have existed on Android devices, their visibility and accessibility have been limited compared with Google’s own marketplace.

The rollout of third-party app stores within Google Play is expected to give alternative platforms a more prominent path to reach users, potentially changing how applications are distributed across Android devices in the US.