Google has finally managed to quiet one of its loudest haters, at least for now.<\/p>\n
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and Google appear to have squashed their years-long legal beef<\/a> over the company\u2019s mobile app store policies, including rules around third-party app stores and payment systems.<\/p>\n As part of their proposed settlement, Sweeney agreed in a binding terms sheet to not only stop attacking Google\u2019s app store policies, but to actively support the changes the company is rolling out.<\/p>\n As The Verge reported<\/a> Wednesday, Sweeney has effectively signed away Epic\u2019s ability to sue Google over (or push for additional changes related to) its app store policies. <\/p>\n \u201cGoogle is opening up Android all the way with robust support for competing stores, competing payments, and a better deal for all developers. So, we\u2019ve settled all of our disputes worldwide. THANKS GOOGLE!,\u201d Sweeney wrote in a post<\/a> on X on Wednesday.<\/p>\n This is a huge switch in tone for Sweeney, who as recently as last April said Google and Apple were \u201cno longer good-faith, law-abiding companies\u201d and accused them of operating like \u201cgangster-style businesses<\/a> that will do anything they think they can get away with.\u201d<\/p>\n Reached for comment, an Epic Games spokesperson directed us to a post on X from the company that reads:<\/p>\n Big fact check here: Criticizing Google is fair game on topics not related to app store distribution\/ fees. Epic and Google agreed to not disparage only on topics about the settlement.<\/p>\n Epic\u2019s fight with Google dates back to 2020, when the company sued both Google and Apple<\/a> after its blockbuster game Fortnite was removed from the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. The removals came after Epic announced it was adding a direct payment option that bypassed the companies\u2019 native payment systems.<\/p>\n The lawsuits challenged what Epic characterized as Google and Apple\u2019s monopolistic practices over the high commissions they charge developers and how difficult they make it for users to download third-party app store alternatives like the Epic Games Store.<\/p>\n Epic largely lost its case against Apple; however, a federal judge ruled in 2021 that Apple was required to allow developers to direct users to alternative payment options<\/a> outside the App Store. The enforcement of this order is still being litigated<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Google case played out differently. In 2023, a jury found that Google had violated antitrust law<\/a> with how it ran the Play Store. But rather than continue a lengthy appeals fight, Google announced in 2025 that it was proposing a settlement<\/a> with Epic that would change some Play Store policies.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, President of Android Ecosystem Sameer Samat wrote in a blog post<\/a> that the company would begin implementing some of the proposed settlement changes even before they are officially approved by a judge. The changes, which would roll out over the coming years, are meant to give developers more billing options and make it easier for users to install qualified third-party app stores.<\/p>\n \u201cThese changes will evolve Android into a true open platform with competition among stores, as we\u2019ve seen on Windows where Steam, the Epic Games Store, Good Old Games, and others offer consumers and developers real choice and lower prices,\u201d Epic said in a statement<\/a> about the changes.<\/p>\n That statement aligns with the binding term sheet Sweeney signed this week.<\/p>\n \u201cEpic believes that the Google and Android platform, with the changes in this term sheet, are procompetitive and a model for app store \/ platform operations, and will make good faith efforts to advocate for the same,\u201d the contract states.<\/p>\n The Verge points out that the contract does not expire until 2032, five years after Google is set to finish implementing its proposed changes.<\/p>\n It remains to be seen whether Sweeney will keep this truce going beyond then.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Google has finally managed to quiet one of its loudest haters, at least for now. 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