| October 30, 2025
Big change for Android users in the U.S.: Google can no longer force app developers to use its payment system—or charge its 30% fee.
Starting October 29, U.S. developers can now:
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Tell users about cheaper prices outside the Play Store
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Add direct links to their own websites or payment systems (like PayPal or credit cards)
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Skip Google’s billing system entirely—and keep more of their earnings
This is the first major result of Epic Games’ antitrust lawsuit, which accused Google of running an illegal monopoly over Android apps. And after years of legal battles, Epic won.
How We Got Here
It all started in 2020, when Epic tried to let Fortnite players buy in-game currency directly—bypassing Google’s 30% cut. Google responded by removing Fortnite from the Play Store.
Epic sued. A jury agreed with them in 2023. Appeals courts backed the decision in 2025. And on October 6, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to step in, clearing the way for real change.
Now, a court order will force Google to keep these rules in place until November 2027.
What This Means for You
If you’re a developer: You can finally offer lower prices or keep more revenue—without risking your app’s place on Android.
If you’re a user: You might start seeing messages like, “Get this app 20% cheaper on our website!” inside Play Store apps. You’ll have the choice to pay outside Google’s system—just like on iPhone (where similar rules now apply after Apple’s own legal loss).
Epic’s Big Win
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney called it a “total victory.” The company now plans to bring the Epic Games Store to Android—letting gamers buy and download games without going through Google at all.
The court also blocked Google from secretly paying big app makers to stay exclusive—a program Epic exposed as “Project Hug,” worth billions.
Google’s Response
Google says it’s only making these changes because the court ordered it—and it still plans to appeal. The company insists it will “share more details soon” about how it will protect user safety while allowing outside payments.
But for now? The walls around the Play Store are coming down—at least in the U.S.
And that’s a win for competition, developers, and maybe even your wallet.
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