Google and Epic Games this week withdrew their joint settlement agreement after the court unlikely to allow it. With the settlement out, Google is bound by a permanent injunction issued in October 2024 requiring it to allow alternative app stores on Android devices. In a court filing, Google said it plans to begin supporting alternative app stores on July 22. In a statement to *The Verge*, Google said it decided to withdraw the motion to avoid a prolonged legal fight. This allows it to focus on executing a global business model evolution to deliver greater app store choice, lower prices, and more opportunities for developers and users.

Third‑party U.S. app stores will be able to distribute the Google Play catalog of apps, and Google has published a guide on the process. The app stores will be available through the Google Play Store, and Google will charge alternative marketplaces a $5,000 annual access fee. Apps downloaded through alternative stores will still use the Google Play system, and Google will collect its service fee on those transactions.

The injunction forcing Google to support third‑party app stores does not directly impact Apple, but it is a legal outcome Apple has been fighting worldwide. The European Union’s Digital Markets Act requires Apple to support TEMPORARY alternative app marketplaces, a requirement Apple has repeatedly said weakens user privacy and protections.