Google Play is opening the door to third-party app stores, starting next week

prepare, Android Users: Google will start allowing people to download third-party apps from the Google Play Store next week. Bloomberg reports. This news comes after a five-year antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the game’s manufacturer The famous video game Fortniteconcluded on Tuesday.

US Android phone owners will be able to download third-party apps starting July 22.

Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Google in 2020claiming that the Google Play Store acts as an illegal monopoly by restricting easy access to third-party services, such as non-Google app stores and payment methods.

In late 2023, the court ruled in Epic’s favor, and US District Judge James Donato issued a sweeping order requiring Google to open the Play Store to competing app stores.

In November 2025, the two companies reached a settlement to amend this order, proposing an alternative solution that was announced in March of this year. The settlement will take the form of the Registered App Stores Program, requiring third-party stores to remain outside the Play ecosystem as sideloaded apps rather than within Google Play.

The two companies subsequently jointly withdrew this amended settlement to avoid “prolonging” the legal process. Since the settlement was overturned, Google has returned to adhering to the court’s original, stricter mandate.

The company has launched a page dedicated to it Play catalog access programannouncing that third-party app stores will be downloadable directly from within Google Play starting July 22. App developers will have greater visibility for their products, and their games and apps will be listed on third-party Android app stores.

Google service fees will continue to apply to these downloads, while the company has reduced app purchase commissions from 30% to 10%. As part of the settlement, developers are now allowed to offer users alternative payment methods or distribute purchase links on their websites.

Google spokesman Dan Jackson told CNET in a statement that by moving beyond this dispute, the tech giant can focus on launching its new global business strategy that aims to provide more store options, lower prices, and better opportunities for users and developers.

Jackson emphasized that although Google will strictly adhere to the US court’s original mandate, it is “committed to maintaining Android industry-leading security and fostering a competitive ecosystem where every app store and developer is free to compete.”