The "walled garden" of app stores collapses: Google Play Store will open for third-party downloads next week, marking the end of Epic's victory

According to the Zhitong Finance APP, Google (GOOGL.US), a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has stated to the federal court in California that it will allow U.S. users to directly download third-party app stores from the Google Play Store starting next week. In court documents submitted late Tuesday, Google indicated that it is withdrawing its previous motion to modify the final judgment in the antitrust case against Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite. This move effectively brings an end to the long-standing litigation.

U.S. District Judge James Donato had previously ruled that Google must allow competitors' app stores to be listed in the Play Store to help Android users switch to other app distribution channels more conveniently. According to the court's permanent injunction, Google must allow competitors' app stores to enter Google Play and share its complete app catalog over the coming years. The injunction is set to be issued in October 2024 and is scheduled to take effect in July 2026.

In March of this year, the Android system developer proposed allowing third-party app stores to enter Android phones through a registration process, bypassing the requirement to host competitors' app stores in the Play Store. Google stated at the time that this workaround would enable it to launch a global solution while also complying with new regulatory requirements in Europe and other regions.

Donato was scheduled to hold a hearing this week to assess Google's modification proposal. However, economists hired by the court raised objections to the practice of placing competitors' app stores outside the Play Store.

Nancy Rose, an economics professor at MIT, noted in a report on July 10: "I do not believe that the registered app store plan can achieve the effects that distribution through Google Play can."

She stated, "New entrants promoting app stores through web downloads must persuade users to leave their familiar mobile environment, navigate to potentially unfamiliar websites, and complete the installation there. In contrast, app stores offered within the Play Store can convert the same marketing into direct installations that users are already using in the store."

Google stated in a statement that agreeing to withdraw the proposal was to avoid "prolonging this process that brings uncertainty to the ecosystem" and will continue to comply with other terms ruled by Judge Donato.

Google spokesperson Dan Jackson stated that the company will focus on previously announced adjustments to the global app store business model, providing developers and users with more choices and lower costs while maintaining the security of the Android platform.

According to information submitted by Google to the court, the company plans to officially support third-party app stores in Google Play on July 22, U.S. time. At that time, U.S. users will be able to directly search for and download other Android app stores through Google Play without needing to install them via sideloading Epic has not yet commented on the court documents