Google Opens Play Store to Rival App Stores After Years of Litigation
Google has finally opened its Play Store to rival app stores after years of litigation. Aptoide Games, a mobile game marketplace, is the first third-party store available through Google Play, following a court order that forced Google to allow competing app shops.
The change in policy comes after a lengthy battle with Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, which sued Google and Apple over their monopolistic practices related to payments. In 2023, a jury found that Google had violated antitrust law with how it ran the Play Store.
As part of its proposed settlement with Epic, Google announced a new 'Registered App Store' program designed to make it easier for qualifying third-party stores to be installed on Android devices. However, Google and Epic withdrew their proposed settlement last month after a U.S. District Judge expressed skepticism about the deal.
Aptoide is likely just the beginning, with Epic's own store potentially showing up on Google Play in the near future, along with Microsoft's plans for an Xbox mobile game store.