Is Google’s app store monopoly finally cracking?

Google’s grip on its app store (Google Play) just got a bit looser, thanks to a major court decision that’s forcing the tech giant to open the gates a little wider.

The issue first started in 2020 when Epic Games challenged the status quo by adding a direct payment system to Fortnite on Android, bypassing Google’s required revenue cut. That led to the gaming giant being kicked off the Play Store and kickstarted Epic's lawsuit, which, five years later, has landed a blow to one of Google’s most lucrative business models.

Later, in 2023, a jury found Google guilty of running the Play Store like an illegal monopoly. The court ruled that Google’s dominance was harming both developers and consumers, and in 2024, an injunction followed, forcing Google to open the Play Store to third-party app stores. 

Google ordered to support alternative App Stores and payment methods on its Play Store

With third-party app stores now able to distribute apps found on Google Play, the market will likely see an influx of competition.

TechloyEmmanuel Oyedeji

Google, of course, appealed, hoping to reverse the verdict, but this week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the original ruling.

Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney called it a total victory and confirmed that the Epic Games Store will officially arrive on the Google Play Store. That means Android users may soon download Fortnite and other Epic titles right inside Google’s marketplace, sidestepping the old restrictions.

More importantly, the court’s decision clears the way for other developers to do the same, turning the Play Store from a tightly controlled marketplace into something far more open and competitive.

The implications are huge. Google’s Play Store dominance has long gone unchallenged, but now, developers may move to alternative stores with better revenue splits, and users might rethink why they need Google’s store at all. Google is arguing that the ruling could threaten user safety, but that defense is wearing thin.

Meanwhile, the case isn’t Epic’s first war with a tech giant. The gaming company took Apple to court over similar App Store rules and partially succeeded. Apple was forced to allow U.S. developers to direct users to alternative payment options, a historic first.

As the ruling stands, it marks one of the most significant antitrust setbacks for Google in recent memory. If the injunction is enforced as expected, and if other developers follow Epic’s lead, I think it could usher in a more open, fragmented, and perhaps innovative Android app economy. 

Epic can claim victory over Google for now, but the war isn't over; one more appeal is left to the Supreme Court. 

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