Epic Games Wins Case Forcing Google to Open Play Store
The gaming world is buzzing with the latest legal victory by Epic Games over Google. A recent court ruling in the United States has mandated Google to open its Play Store to competitors for three years. This decision stems from a long-standing legal battle initiated by Epic Games against Google, aiming to create a more competitive online store environment. Starting this November, Google must allow non-Android apps on its Play Store and give third-party stores full access to its app catalog. This change is set to shake up the tech landscape significantly.
Key Changes in the Google Play Store
The court ruling has introduced several notable changes:
- Google cannot pay companies for exclusive app availability on the Play Store.
- Third-party stores will have unrestrained access to Google's app catalog.
- No more mandatory Google Play billing for apps on the Play Store.
- Restrictions on pre-installation ads for Google Play on new devices.
These changes aim to foster a competitive ecosystem, benefiting both developers and consumers.
Epic Games' Reaction
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, celebrated the verdict, announcing that the Epic Games Store and other app stores will be available on the Google Play Store by 2025 in the USA. He highlighted the absence of Google's "scare screens" and the notorious 30% app tax as significant wins for developers and consumers alike.
Google's Response and Appeal
Despite the ruling, Google plans to appeal, arguing that these changes could compromise consumer privacy and security. They believe it could make it harder for developers to promote their apps and ultimately reduce competition on devices. Google is also seeking a suspension of the imposed conditions until the appeal's outcome is determined.
Impact on the Market
The announcement of this verdict led to a more than 2% drop in the stock value of Google's parent company, Alphabet. This legal battle traces back to Epic's initial lawsuit against Google and Apple in 2020, following Epic's attempt to bypass app store fees with a direct payment system in Fortnite.
While Epic has succeeded against Google, their legal struggle with Apple remains unresolved, as the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the case.
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