Overview
- Effective October 29, 2025, Google updated U.S. Play Store policies to let developers communicate external pricing and link to outside downloads and transactions.
- Apps distributed through Google Play no longer have to use Google Play Billing, and other in-app payment methods such as PayPal or direct credit cards are permitted.
- Google says it will soon publish additional program requirements and business-model changes to preserve user trust and safety.
- The new rules apply only to users in the United States and are time-limited under the injunction until November 1, 2027.
- The compliance follows Epic Games’ antitrust win finding Google Play and its billing system an illegal monopoly, with the injunction upheld on appeal.