The battle between Epic Games and Google is finally winding down, bringing exciting news to developers. The companies have withdrawn their proposed settlement, which included a registered app store program, and now Google will have to allow third-party stores within its own.
The whole issue started several years ago, when Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite and Unreal Engine, sued Google, accusing it of holding a monopoly over Android app distribution – a fight Epic has won more than once, with Google appealing every time.
The case revealed an $800 million deal between the companies, including “joint product development, joint marketing commitment, joint partnerships,” with Epic “helping Google market Android” and Google “using Epic’s core technology.”
Later, they tried to settle, and Google introduced more billing options, lower fees, and a program for registered app stores. This program, however, would make users sideload approved store apps instead of simply getting them from Google Play – something the judge, James Donato, was skeptical about.
So, Epic Games and Google announced their decision to drop the idea and comply with the original demands.
According to Google, it is ready to “invite” other stores on July 22 (via The Verge), at least in the US.
