App store “wall” collapses: Google (GOOGL.US) Play Store opens third party downloads next week, ending Epic's victory

The Zhitong Finance App learned that Google (GOOGL.US), a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has indicated to the California Federal Court that it will allow US users to directly download third-party app stores within the Google Play Store starting next week. In court documents filed late Tuesday, Google said it was withdrawing its previous motion seeking to amend the final judgment in the Fortnite developer Epic Games antitrust case. This move actually brought an end to this lawsuit, which has been going on for a long time.

US District Judge James Donato (James Donato) previously ruled that Google must allow rival app stores to be listed within the Play Store to help Android users switch to other app distribution channels more easily. According to the court's permanent ban, Google must allow competitor app stores to enter Google Play within a few years and share the full app catalog with them. The ban was issued in October 2024 and was originally scheduled to take effect in July 2026.

In March of this year, the Android developer proposed instead to allow third-party app stores to enter Android phones through a registration process. The solution circumvented the requirement to host competitor app stores within the Play Store. Google said at the time that this workaround would enable it to launch a global solution while also complying with new regulatory requirements in Europe and other regions.

Donato was scheduled to hold a hearing this week to evaluate Google's revised proposal. However, economists hired by the court objected to putting rival app stores outside of the Play Store.

Nancy Rose (Nancy Rose), an economics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stated in a July 10 report: “I don't think signing up for an app store program can achieve the results that can be achieved through Google Play distribution.”

She said, “When new entrants promote app stores through web downloads, they must persuade users to leave their familiar mobile environment, navigate to potentially unfamiliar websites, and complete the installation there. With app stores available within the Play Store, the same marketing can be converted into direct installs that users are already using in the store.”

Google said in a statement that it agreed to withdraw the proposal in order to avoid “extending this process, which brings uncertainty to the ecosystem,” and that it will continue to abide by other terms decided by Judge Donato.

Google spokesman Dan Jackson (Dan Jackson) said that the company will focus on the previously announced adjustments to the global app store business model to provide developers and users with more choices and lower costs, while maintaining the security of the Android platform.

According to information submitted by Google to the court, the company plans to officially support third-party app stores on Google Play on July 22, US time. At that time, US users will be able to search and download other Android app stores directly through Google Play without the need to install via sideload.

Epic has yet to comment on this court filing.