Epic v. Google: US Supreme Court upholds order to change Play Store rules
7 October 17:23
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to grant Google’s request to temporarily suspend key provisions of a court order requiring the company to change the operation of its Play app store.
This was reported byReuters, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The order is part of a multi-year case against Google initiated by Epic Games, the creator of the popular Fortnite game.
The essence of the decision
- Last year, Judge James Donato issued a ruling limiting Google’s monopolistic practices.
- Starting inJuly 2026, Google will have to allow users to download competing app stores within the Play Store and open its catalog to competitors.
- As early as the end of October 2025, developers will be allowed to add external links to payment systems to their apps, which will allow them to bypass Google’s fees.
Reaction of the parties
- Google said it was disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision and plans to appeal by October 27. The company warns that the order could pose risks to more than 100 million Android users in the US and half a million developers.
- Epic Games welcomed the decision. CEO Tim Sweeney wrote in X that starting from the end of the month, developers will be “legally authorized” to direct users to off-site payment methods without Google fees.
Why this is important
Back in 2020, Epic filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing it of monopolizing the mobile app market. In 2023, the company won a jury trial in San Francisco.
In July, judges of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed that the case file was “overflowing with evidence of Google’s anticompetitive behavior.”
This decision could radically change the Android ecosystem and weaken Google’s control over developers.
Epic Games also filed a similar lawsuit against Apple, but the results were more limited: the court only allowed adding external links to payments, leaving the App Store under Apple’s control.
In the United States, Google is also facing other lawsuits, including from government agencies and business clients, who accuse the company of abusing its dominance in the advertising and search markets.
What’s next
If Google’s appeal is unsuccessful, the Play Store rules will have to be rewritten starting at the end of this month. This could open the door to increased competition in the mobile app market and lower costs for users.
