Epic Games Scores Major Win Over Google — Epic Games Store Is Coming to Play Store

Image: Epic Games vs. Google.

Google has lost its legal battle against Epic Games, and that means a big shakeup is coming to the Android app world. Following a ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Epic Games has confirmed it will bring its Epic Games Store to Android — not just as a standalone app, but officially through the Google Play Store itself.

This decision marks the end (for now) of a lengthy legal fight that’s been going on since 2020. Things kicked off when Epic bypassed Google’s (and Apple’s) 15-30% cut on Fortnite in-app purchases. That move got Fortnite booted from both app stores and triggered a full-blown antitrust war. Fast forward to late 2023, and a jury sided with Epic, saying Google had unfairly locked down Android to protect its own store from competition.

Now, on July 31, U.S. District Judge James Donato issued an order telling Google to tear down those digital walls — essentially forcing the company to open up Android and make room for third-party app stores. That includes allowing stores like Epic’s to manage their own payments and offer better deals directly to users.

Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney has since confirmed that the Epic Games Store will indeed be coming to the Play Store. There’s no launch date yet, but the move is happening — and it’s going to be a pretty big deal for Android users and developers alike.

Of course, Google isn’t letting this go without a fight. The company plans to appeal the decision. “This decision will significantly harm user safety, limit choice and undermine the innovation that has always been central to the Android ecosystem,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Global Head of Regulatory Affairs, in a statement to The Verge. Google insists its primary goal is to keep the platform secure for everyone.

Still, unless that appeal succeeds, Google will have to start complying with the judge’s order. That means the Play Store's entire catalog — over 2 million apps — must become accessible to rival app stores. Google will also be required to help distribute these alternative options, something the company clearly isn’t thrilled about. They've also warned that the changes could open users up to more scams and malware, but Epic’s legal team has dismissed those claims as exaggerated scare tactics.

Epic, meanwhile, is treating the outcome as a win not just for itself, but for the entire app developer community. “Today’s verdict is a win for all app developers and consumers around the world,” the company said in a public statement. “It proves that Google’s app store practices are illegal and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition, and reduce innovation.”

Epic didn’t win its similar case against Apple, but it still forced the iPhone maker to allow alternative payment links — so both tech giants are feeling the pressure.