Breaking: Google and Epic suggest settlement to finish years-long Play Retailer battle within the US

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TL;DR

Google and Epic Video games have proposed a settlement to resolve their five-year-long authorized dispute over the Play Retailer’s alleged monopolization of person selection and in-app purchases. Each corporations have collectively filed the proposed settlement with the court docket. Underneath the proposal, Google will enable higher flexibility for builders to distribute apps and course of funds exterior of Google Play, thereby additionally increasing selections for Play Retailer customers.

Google and Epic Video games might lastly be near ending their long-running authorized dispute over the Play Retailer. Each corporations have collectively filed a proposed settlement with the court docket, which might result in massive adjustments to how Android and Google Play function within the US.

In a submit on X, Sameer Samat, Google’s President of Android Ecosystem, introduced that the businesses have “filed a proposed set of adjustments to Android and Google Play that target increasing developer selection and adaptability, reducing charges, and inspiring extra competitors — all whereas preserving customers protected.” Samat added that if authorized, the proposal would resolve their ongoing litigations. A listening to is scheduled for Thursday.

<img class="e_Yg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Google Epic Settlement" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Google-Epic-Settlement.jpg 800w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Google-Epic-Settlement-64w-56h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Google-Epic-Settlement-446w-380h.jpg 446w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Google-Epic-Settlement-675w-575h.jpg 675w" alt="Google Epic Settlement" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Google-Epic-Settlement.jpg"/> Tim Sweeney and Sameer Samat/X

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<img class="e_Yg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge light@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge light@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png"/><img class="e_Yg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge dark@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge dark@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png"/> Epic CEO Tim Sweeney additionally wrote in regards to the proposed adjustments on X, calling Google’s proposal “an superior” and “complete answer” that doubles down on Android’s “unique imaginative and prescient as an open platform.” In keeping with Sweeney, the proposal would streamline competing retailer installs “globally,” scale back Play Retailer service charges, and permit third-party in-app and internet funds, highlighting all the important thing factors Epic has lengthy fought for all this time.

Sweeney additionally took a jab at Apple, saying that Google’s proposed adjustments stand in distinction to Apple’s extra closed ecosystem that “blocks all competing shops.”

If authorized by the court docket, the proposed settlement might lastly mark the top of one of the crucial outstanding antitrust instances within the business. Epic first sued Google in 2020 after Fortnite was faraway from the Play Retailer for implementing its personal fee system to bypass Google’s platform charges.

What Google and Epic Video games have proposed The joint proposal (through Reuters) filed by Google and Epic Video games reads as follows:

“Epic and Google have reached a complete settlement. Amongst different issues, that settlement would resolve this case and the separate motion earlier than this Court docket in Epic Video games, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.”

Underneath the proposal, Google will enable higher flexibility for builders to distribute apps and course of funds exterior of Google Play, each through in-app funds and exterior hyperlinks. Moreover, Google will decrease service charges on Google Play. The proposal specifies the utmost service price Google can be allowed to cost, both 9% or 20%, relying on the kind of transaction.

The proposal now requires approval from US District Choose James Donato, who oversaw the 2023 trial by which Epic received in opposition to Google. The decide additionally mandated vital Play Retailer reforms final yr.