Overview
- Google and Epic jointly withdrew their motion to modify Judge James Donato’s injunction, and Google told the court it is prepared to begin carrying third‑party app stores in Google Play on July 22, 2026.
- Google has launched a Play Catalog Access Program that will automatically make U.S. app and game listings available to enrolled third‑party stores unless developers opt out through the Play Console.
- Third‑party stores must meet security and policy rules to enroll, including U.S.‑only distribution, a clear non‑discriminatory trust-and-safety policy, a cap of under 1% malware install attempts, and a $5,000 annual review fee.
- Developers can use alternative billing systems under the new setup, which may reduce Google’s fees and give competitors such as Microsoft’s Xbox a practical route to launch mobile storefronts on Android.
- The change enforces a remedy from an October 2024 ruling that found Google had an illegal monopoly over Android distribution and shifts how apps are discovered, sold, and secured in the U.S. mobile market.