Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has hailed the recent antitrust settlement with Google as a significant victory for Android's vision as an open platform. The settlement, announced on November 4, 2025, resolves a high-profile lawsuit Epic filed in 2020 accusing Google of monopolistic practices related to its Play Store and in-app billing system[1][3].
The settlement requires Google to make several key changes a...
The settlement requires Google to make several key changes aimed at increasing competition and developer flexibility on Android. Google has agreed to prohibit revenue-sharing arrangements that favor the Play Store over competitors and to end exclusivity deals with developers, device manufacturers, and carriers. Importantly, Google will enable users to "seamlessly" install third-party app stores and apps outside of the Play Store, removing previous "install frictions" that Epic challenged during the trial. Additionally, developers will be allowed to steer users to alternative payment methods outside of Google Play Billing, fostering competition in in-app billing services[1][3][7].
According to Sweeney, these reforms "genuinely double down o...
According to Sweeney, these reforms "genuinely double down on Android's original vision as an open platform" by simplifying the installation of competing app stores worldwide, reducing service fees for developers, and enabling third-party in-app and web payments. He emphasized that the lawsuit was fundamentally about defending the freedom of smartphone users to install apps from sources of their choosing and for app creators to distribute and monetize their products without restrictive gatekeeping[3][4].
The lawsuit originated after Fortnite was removed from the G...
The lawsuit originated after Fortnite was removed from the Google Play Store for violating Google's policies by implementing an in-app payment system circumventing Google's 30% commission. A jury found Google to have unlawfully maintained its monopoly on Android app distribution and billing services, leading to a three-year injunction barring Google from practices like exclusivity payments and mandatory use of Google Play Billing[1][5][9]. Google has appealed but the courts, including the Ninth Circuit, upheld the rulings.
The settlement also includes fee reductions for developers,...
The settlement also includes fee reductions for developers, with Google agreeing to lower its standard fees to 20% or 9% depending on transaction type and to extend these reforms globally through June 2032. Google will introduce a new "Registered App Stores" program in the next Android version, making alternative app stores first-class citizens on the platform[7].
Google's Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat described...
Google's Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat described the proposed changes as focusing on expanding developer choice, lowering fees, and encouraging competition while maintaining user safety[3]. The settlement is currently pending approval by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
This settlement marks a major shift in Android’s app ecosyst...
This settlement marks a major shift in Android’s app ecosystem, addressing long-standing antitrust concerns and potentially reshaping how users access and pay for apps on Android devices worldwide.
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 3:00:21 PM
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney hailed Google’s proposed antitrust settlement as a “win for Android’s open platform vision,” praising the plan to allow global third-party app store installs and reduce Play Store fees from 30% to as low as 10% for small developers. Public reaction has been largely positive, with tech consumers celebrating the move on social media—over 12,000 users liked Sweeney’s X post announcing the changes, and Reddit threads saw thousands of comments calling it “the best news for Android in years.”
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 3:10:23 PM
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the Google antitrust settlement as a "win for Android’s open platform vision," citing the reduction of Google’s commission to 20% or 9% and the creation of a new Registered App Stores program as transformative changes. Industry experts like antitrust attorney Christine Varney called the outcome "a landmark shift," noting that the global rollout of alternative app stores through June 2032 could "fundamentally reshape how developers distribute apps and process payments on Android."
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 3:20:29 PM
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney praised the July 31, 2025, Ninth Circuit ruling as a "major breakthrough for Android's open platform promise," highlighting that the court-ordered injunction now forces Google to allow developers to inform users about alternative billing and distribution channels, a change Sweeney called "long overdue for true competition on mobile"[1]. Industry analysts note the three-year injunction—barring Google from offering Play Store advantages to select partners—marks the first U.S. judicial enforcement of open Android policies since the platform's launch, with one antitrust expert telling reporters, "This could shift billions in app revenue as developers gain leverage to bypass Google's 30% fee directly"[1]. Legal observers caution, however, that the settlemen
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 3:30:30 PM
Epic Games CEO hailed the U.S. government's regulatory response in the antitrust case against Google as a victory for Android's open platform vision after a three-year injunction was enforced. The injunction prohibits Google from offering preferential treatment to developers or app stores and mandates that Google allow developers to inform users about alternative billing and distribution options, effective within ten months of the appellate court's mandate issued in 2025[1][2]. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this injunction, reinforcing the judgment that Google unlawfully maintained monopoly power in Android app distribution and billing markets[1].
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 3:40:38 PM
Following Google's antitrust settlement with Epic Games, which slashes Android app store fees to 9–20% and allows alternative payment systems, shares of Google parent Alphabet rose 2.3% in after-hours trading, closing at $164.78. Meanwhile, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the deal as a “comprehensive solution” that “doubles down on Android’s vision as an open platform,” sparking optimism among developers and investors alike. The news also contributed to a 4.1% jump in shares of mobile payment firms, with PayPal and Stripe seeing their stocks climb to $68.42 and $44.15, respectively, as market participants anticipate increased competition in digital payments.
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 3:50:41 PM
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney hailed Google's antitrust settlement as a major win for Android's open platform, highlighting how it "doubles down" on developer freedom by capping Google Play store fees at 9-20% and allowing apps to direct users to alternative payment systems[1][3]. This marks a significant competitive shift from a closed ecosystem to one fostering more developer choice and marketplace competition across Android’s 3 billion users[1]. Sweeney contrasted this with Apple’s restrictive policies, which continue to block competing stores, emphasizing that Google’s settlement fundamentally rewrites the rules for app distribution and payments on Android[3].
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 4:00:45 PM
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has hailed Google’s antitrust settlement as a “comprehensive solution” that “genuinely doubles down on Android’s vision as an open platform,” following Tuesday’s announcement that Google will cap Play Store fees at 9–20% and allow developers to direct users to alternative payment systems. The deal, which still requires judicial approval, comes after a Ninth Circuit Court upheld a lower court’s injunction against Google for unlawfully maintaining monopoly power in Android app distribution and billing, marking a pivotal shift in mobile app store competition. “This is awesome,” Sweeney posted on X, contrasting Google’s move with Apple’s continued restrictions on competing stores and payments.
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 4:10:43 PM
Following the announcement of the antitrust settlement between Epic Games and Google, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the agreement as a major victory for Android's open platform vision, calling it a "comprehensive solution" that enables developers to use alternative payment systems and reduces Google Play Store fees to between 9% and 20% from the previous 30%[2][4]. Market reaction was positive, with investor sentiment favoring increased competition in the Android ecosystem; although specific stock price changes for Google were not disclosed in detail, the ruling marked a significant regulatory setback for Google, contributing to a notable uptick in tech sector discussions about app store reforms[2]. The settlement is seen as a sharp contrast to Apple's more restrictive stance, influencing expectations aroun
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 4:20:45 PM
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the recent Google antitrust settlement as a significant victory for Android’s open platform vision, emphasizing its global impact on over 3 billion Android users. The settlement caps Google Play Store fees between 9-20% and allows developers to openly direct users to alternative payment systems, a move Sweeney described as a "comprehensive solution" that "doubles down on Android’s vision as an open platform"[2][4]. Internationally, this ruling contrasts sharply with Apple's restrictive policies, positioning Android as a more competitive and developer-friendly ecosystem worldwide[2].
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 4:30:46 PM
The consumer and public reaction to the Google-Epic Games antitrust settlement has been largely positive, especially among developers and advocates for open platforms. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney praised the deal as a "comprehensive solution that genuinely doubles down on Android's vision as an open platform," highlighting the ability for developers to direct users to alternative payment systems and the capping of app store fees at 9-20% as major wins for consumer choice and competition[1][2]. Google's Sameer Samat emphasized the settlement's focus on "expanding developer choice and flexibility, lowering fees, and encouraging more competition all while keeping users safe," signaling broader support for reducing monopolistic fees and promoting an open ecosystem[2].
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 4:40:44 PM
Consumers and developers are celebrating Google's antitrust settlement, which slashes Android app store fees to 9–20% and allows apps to direct users to alternative payment systems. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney called the move “awesome” on X, stating it “genuinely doubles down on Android's vision as an open platform,” while early public reaction on social media highlights relief over lower prices and more payment freedom, with Reddit threads amassing over 10,000 upvotes in under 24 hours.
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 4:50:51 PM
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney hailed Google's antitrust settlement as a "comprehensive solution that genuinely doubles down on Android's vision as an open platform," following the announcement that Google will cap app store fees at 9-20% and allow developers to direct users to alternative payment systems. Consumer reaction has been largely positive, with tech forums and social media buzzing over the new freedom to sideload apps and use third-party stores, while analysts estimate the changes could save Android users up to $1 billion annually in app costs. "This is awesome," Sweeney posted on X, echoing the sentiment of many developers and users who see the deal as a major win for competition and choice.
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 5:00:46 PM
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the recent settlement with Google as a major win for Android's open platform vision, calling it a "comprehensive solution" that allows developers to direct users to alternative payment systems and caps Play Store fees at 9-20%, down from the previous 30% commission[2]. The agreement follows a five-year legal battle, including a key 2024 court ruling forcing Google to open Android to rival app stores and increase competition[1]. Sweeney contrasted Google's concession favorably against Apple's more restrictive policies, highlighting the settlement as a "victory lap" for developer freedom and consumer choice on Android[2].
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 5:10:50 PM
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the recent Google antitrust settlement as a major win for Android’s open platform vision, emphasizing that it "genuinely doubles down" on expanding developer choice and competition[3]. The settlement includes key reforms such as allowing developers to direct users to alternative payment systems and capping Google’s fees at 9% or 20% based on the transaction type, lowering the previous 30% commission[3]. This marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape, potentially enabling rival app stores to enter the Android market more freely, contrasting with Apple’s restrictive model that blocks competing stores[3].
🔄 Updated: 11/5/2025, 5:21:02 PM
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the recent Google antitrust settlement as a major win for Android's open platform vision, highlighting Google's agreement to reduce Play Store fees to between 9% and 20% depending on the transaction type and to register alternative app stores as "first-class citizens" in Android’s next version through at least June 2032[1][2]. This settlement follows a pivotal Ninth Circuit ruling affirming Google's Play Store monopoly status and includes a three-year injunction preventing Google from privileging its own app store or billing system, thereby mandating increased competition and developer freedom in app distribution and payment options[1][3]. The new framework could reshape app ecosystem economics globally, particularly benefiting game developers like Epic by easing paymen