Google and Epic are giving up the fight — third-party Android app stores are coming next week

Epic Games and Google have just jointly withdrawn their bid Retroactive settlement of the lawsuit This changes how Android app stores work in the US — meaning Google will have to keep competing app stores within its own stores. In fact, Google told the court that it is ready to launch third-party app stores on Wednesday, July 22. Does this mean it’s time to launch Microsoft Xbox Game Store on Android?

But Judge James Donato was skeptical that he should abandon his original permanent injunction in favor of Google’s proposed “registered app stores” that users would have to sideload, rather than downloading third-party stores directly through Google Play. On Thursday, July 16, both parties were He is scheduled to appear before the court to discuss it again -But that may no longer be necessary.

Below is Google’s full statement on withdrawing its proposed amendments to Judge Donato’s permanent injunction, via Google spokesperson Dan Jackson:

We have agreed with Epic to withdraw our request to modify the US court order rather than prolong this process that creates uncertainty for the ecosystem. This allows us to focus on carrying out our work Recently announced The global business model has evolved to offer greater app store choice, lower prices, and more opportunities for developers and users. We remain committed to maintaining industry-leading Android security and fostering a competitive ecosystem where every app store and developer is free to compete. In parallel, we continue to comply with the US court order.”

Google had previously announced that it would launch its registered App Store program in the rest of the world, starting with the new version of Android later this year. This means there may be two different paths for Android: the in-store store in the US, and registered app stores everywhere else.

To access the Google Play app catalog, Google will charge stores an annual fee of $5,000 for “security and policy reviews,” and has several additional requirements, including: stores cannot distribute apps outside the United States, they must be open to all qualified third-party developers, have “clear and non-discriminatory” trust and security policies, and no more than 1 percent of “installation attempts” are malware.