Epic vs Google ends: Fortnite-maker and Google settle five-year long court battle with lower fees, and opening Android to rival app stores
Google and Epic Games have settled their bitter antitrust dispute, striking a deal that will crack open Android’s app ecosystem with lower fees and easier access to rival app stores—changes that will ripple across global markets through 2032. The settlement comes as a dramatic shift from the courtroom confrontation that saw Epic win a jury verdict in 2023 accusing Google of illegally monopolising app distribution on Android devices. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney praised the proposal as one that “genuinely doubles down on Android’s original vision as an open platform,” a stark contrast to his ongoing battles with Apple.
Google cuts fees, lets developers bypass its payment system
