Epic Games and Google have jointly withdrawn their attempt to retroactively settle a lawsuit that changes the operation of Android app stores in the United States, meaning Google will be forced to host competing app stores within its own, reports The Verge, writes UNN.
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Moreover, the publication writes, Google told the court it is ready to start hosting third-party app stores on Wednesday, July 22. "Does this mean it's time for Microsoft to launch an Xbox game store on Android?" the publication writes.
In October 2024, U.S. Judge James Donato initially agreed that forcing Google to host competing Android app stores within its own Google Play store for several years and forcing the company to provide access to its entire app catalog to these stores would be the best way to end the company's illegal monopoly. Google has fought this ever since and eventually convinced Epic to join, settling all its legal disputes worldwide and entering into a secret $800 million deal, the publication writes.
However, Judge James Donato was skeptical of the idea of abandoning his initial permanent injunction in favor of Google's proposed "registered app stores," which users would have to install manually, instead of simply downloading third-party stores directly through Google Play. On Thursday, July 16, both sides were due to appear in court for a rehearing on the matter, but that may no longer be necessary, the publication notes.
Google reportedly released a statement withdrawing the proposed changes to Judge Donato's permanent injunction, through Google representative Dan Jackson: "We have agreed with Epic to withdraw our motion to modify the injunction issued by the U.S. court rather than prolong this process, which creates uncertainty for the ecosystem."
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