Google Loses Appeal—Epic Games Store Coming to Google Play

Google has suffered a major setback in its antitrust battle with Epic Games. A federal appeals court—the Ninth Circuit—has unanimously upheld the 2023 jury verdict that branded Google’s Android Play Store and its in-app billing system as illegal monopolies. This ruling compels Google to implement sweeping reforms: allowing rival app stores inside Google Play, giving them access to its full app catalog, and lifting its billing-only requirement for developers.

Epic Games first filed suit in 2020, alleging that Google unfairly controlled Android app distribution and payments, demanding a de facto 15%–30% commission on all in-app transactions. In December 2023, a jury sided with Epic, and Judge James Donato issued an injunction requiring Google to open Android to third-party storefronts and alternative payment methods. That injunction had been temporarily stayed pending appeal until today’s decision. The appeals court rebuffed Google’s arguments that procedural errors favored Epic—and that competition from Apple’s App Store negated its monopoly status. The ruling emphasized a mountain of internal documents showing Google’s revenue-sharing with OEMs and game developers, as well as secret efforts to block competing app stores like the one Epic launched with Samsung.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the outcome as a “total victory,” announcing plans to launch the Epic Games Store directly within Google Play. The court has lifted the stay on Judge Donato’s 2024 order, meaning Epic can begin distribution without waiting for further legal delays. Google responded with concern, warning that the mandated changes could undermine user safety and reduce innovation across the Android ecosystem. Still, industry backers including the U.S. DOJ, FTC, and even Microsoft had voiced support for Epic’s position. Google has confirmed that it intends to continue its appeal, potentially taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The decision dovetails with a broader legal pressure campaign against Google. Earlier in 2025, courts ruled the company unlawfully monopolized ad tech and search markets—raising the possibility of more structural remedies such as divesting its Chrome browser or ad platforms. The cumulative antitrust rulings signal a potential unraveling of Google’s tightly controlled digital ecosystem.

Developers and Android users could soon see the platform opening up: new storefronts launching within Google Play, alternative billing systems, and reduced reliance on Google’s payment cut. For Epic and its peers, this represents a long-awaited chance to compete more fairly in the mobile space.

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