Because Of Epic Games, Google Finally Unloads Its Own Monopoly

Epic Games' victory did shake the status quo. (photo: x @EpicNewsroom)

JAKARTA - Google has officially relaxed its grip on the distribution system of Android applications. After losing the antitrust lawsuit against Epic Games, the tech giant is now required to change the Play Store policy in the United States.

Starting October 29, 2025, app developers are allowed to offer cheaper prices outside of the Play Store, use their own payment systems, and even link directly to external downloads without having to bypass Google's digital store.

This move is an important milestone in the global technology industry, marking the end of one of the biggest digital monopoly practices in Android history.

The case between Epic Games and Google began in 2020, when Epic accused Google of carrying out monopoly practices through the Play Store and its mandatory payment system, Google Play Billing. Epic developer Fortnite refused to pay commissions up to 30% for every transaction in the app, and eventually sued Google for federal court in California.

After a long legal process, the jury found Google guilty of obstructing healthy competition and creating a closed ecosystem that harms developers. The ruling forced Google to open the Play Store and allow payment alternatives for Android apps.

In its official statement, Google said that starting October 29, 2025, a number of new rules apply to applications serving users in the United States.

Some of the main points of change include:

Google will not prohibit developers from communicating with users regarding the price or availability of applications outside the Play Store.

Google will not ban live download links outside the Play Store ecosystem.

Google will not require the use of the Google Play Billing system, and will not limit other payment systems within the app.

Google will not set the app price based on whether the payment system uses Google Play or not.

With this new rule, a game developer can now write in his application: Buy on the Play Store for $115 or live on our site for only $10.

This move is considered a major win for developer freedom, as well as a crushing blow to Google's dominant business model for more than a decade.

Although it appears open, Google slipped a warning that there are still further changes in sight. In its statement, the company said there would be a new program and business model requirement to maintain user trust and security.

The sentence is seen by many analysts as a signal that Google could have imitated Apple's move, which after losing a similar case in the European Union, introduced a series of new regulations such as the cost of Core Technology Fee which in the end made new freedom feel pseudo.

That is, developers may be free to choose other payment systems, but with technical requirements and additional costs that can reduce their profits again.

For the time being, this policy change only applies in the United States. However, the decision paved the way for other countries to pressure Google to implement similar policies. Observers think that the European Union, South Korea, and Australia will most likely be the next region to push for Play Store reforms.

If global legal pressure increases, Google may be forced to implement an open system around the world that could completely change the Android app industry map, as well as threaten the tens of billions of dollars in revenue that has come from the Play Store commission.

Epic Games welcomes this decision as a big win for digital freedom. Epic CEO Tim happened to call Google's move the "end of the digital wall that has been limiting innovation."

"This is not just a win for Epic, but for all developers and Android users in the world", saidTEN in his statement. "Internet is built on the basis of freedom and openness not monopoly and restrictions."

Epic Games' victory has indeed rocked the status quo. However, the path to the completely free Android ecosystem is still long. Google still has control over app security, distribution and visibility systems on the Play Store. With giant resources and algorithms dominating the application search, Google can still determine who is 'appearing' and who is drowning.

For users, this change has the potential to lower app prices and provide more payment system options. However, for developers, new challenges arise in ensuring transaction security, file distribution, and user confidence outside the Play Store.