The legal battle between Google and Epic Games goes back to 2020, when the former pulled Fortnite from the Play Store over billing disputes. Since then, the two tech titans have decked it out in various courtrooms. But now, the two sides have apparently reached a settlement, pending the approval of the court.
Google’s president of Android ecosystem, Sameer Samat, shared the announcement online and touted “a proposed set of changes to Android and Google Play that focus on expanding developer choice and flexibility, lowering fees, and encouraging more competition all while keeping users safe.”
Exciting news! Together with Epic Games we have filed a proposed set of changes to Android and Google Play that focus on expanding developer choice and flexibility, lowering fees, and encouraging more competition all while keeping users safe. If approved, this would resolve our…
— Sameer Samat (@ssamat) November 5, 2025
Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney quickly added a message of his own about the settlement. Sweeney called it “a comprehensive solution,” before reminding everyone that Epic’s ongoing battle with Apple is far from over. He said Google’s actions stand “in contrast to Apple’s model of blocking all competing stores and leaving payments as the only vector for competition.”
Google has made an awesome proposal, subject to court approval, to open up Android in the US Epic v Google case and settle our disputes. It genuinely doubles down on Android’s original vision as an open platform to streamline competing store installs globally, reduce service fees… https://t.co/Q6E4XE3ych
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) November 5, 2025
Last year, Epic won a temporary victory over Google that would have forced the latter to carry rival app stores in Google Play for a period of three years. It also required Google to stop forcing devs to use Google Play Billing for user payments.
As an alternative, the settlement would feature a deal that runs through June 2032 and would be valid worldwide, not just in the US. Google’s new terms would drop its standard fee for apps to 20% or 9%, depending on the type of transaction. It also pledges to let outside app stores register with Google and reach customers more easily.
Google spokesperson Dan Jackson told The Verge that the proposed fee changes are separate from Google Play Billing. But users will have the option to pay with other billing systems.
“If the user chooses to pay through an alternative billing system, the developer pays no billing fee to Google,” said Jackson.
Epic Games and Google will meet with the presiding judge later this week to discuss the settlement. If the court signs off on it, their legal war will be over.