One of the biggest changes in the history of the Google Play ecosystem will be implemented on July 22, when Google will allow eligible third-party Android app stores to access and distribute apps from the Play catalog in the United States. The move follows a years-long legal battle with Epic Games as the company complies with a federal court injunction to increase competition in the Android app marketplace.
Third-party app stores that follow the newly announced Google Play Catalogue Access Program will be able to show app listings on Google Play, including app names, descriptions, icons, screenshots, and videos submitted by developers. Users will continue to download and install apps through Google Play and will still be subject to Google’s existing Play service fees. However, users will find those apps through these other marketplaces.
The policy is a significant change in the way Google has historically distributed apps. Nevertheless, rival third-party app stores were not allowed to run within the Play Store itself, but developers could still distribute Android apps outside of Google Play for years via sideloading or independent marketplaces.
Epic Games sued Google in 2020, arguing that Google’s Play Store was an illegal monopoly that prevented easy access to third-party services, including app stores and non-Google payment methods. That’s about to change next week as Google rolls out the court-ordered remedies from Epic Games’ successful antitrust lawsuit.
Google informed developers that, by default, their U.S. app and game listings will be included in catalogs available to approved third-party app stores unless they choose to opt out. Through the Play Console, developers can publish to all participating marketplaces, manage each store individually, or prevent their listings from appearing on any third-party storefront.
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The action comes after Google’s decision not to pursue its effort to change the injunction issued by U.S. District Judge James Donato. The company had earlier proposed an alternative system, where users would sideload competing app stores rather than downloading them directly from Google Play. Google settled with Epic Games to resolve that legal battle and confirmed it would follow the original court-ordered framework from July 22.
In late 2023, a federal court ruled in favor of Epic Games in its antitrust case against Google, with U.S. District Judge James Donato issuing a wide-ranging order that requires the company to open the Play Store to other app marketplaces. As part of compliance with that ruling, participation in the Play Catalogue Access Program is not automatic.
Google says eligible third-party app stores must operate as legitimate organizations serving U.S. users, maintain clear marketplace policies, meet strict security and compliance standards, and pay an annual review fee before gaining access to the Play catalog.
Android users likely won’t see a huge difference immediately, but it could mean big things in the long run. Other app stores will find it much easier to reach consumers, without the requirement of manually sideloading the software. The new framework might encourage companies like Epic Games and Microsoft to expand their Android storefront ambitions and give developers new distribution channels other than Google Play, industry watchers say.
Because consumers have always been able to install apps from outside the Play Store, Google has long maintained that Android offers more openness than other mobile systems. However, the company has cautioned that integrating rival app stores directly into Google Play may cause issues with security, privacy, and consumer confidence.
In its broader response to regulatory pressure and legal decisions, Google has also cut its app purchase commissions to as little as 10 to 11% in some cases from the standard 30%. The company said the changes are intended to keep the company in compliance with the court’s order while still protecting users against malware and fraudulent activity.
The rollout represents one of the most consequential changes to Android app distribution in years. According to CNET, the shift could significantly alter how apps are discovered and distributed on Android devices, opening the door for increased competition and new opportunities for developers.
By opening Google Play to approved third-party app stores, Google is reshaping how Android software can be discovered and distributed in the United States, potentially giving developers and consumers more choice while intensifying competition in the mobile app ecosystem.
