Major Android Play Store changes on the way – here’s how you could benefit

Google is officially welcoming third-party app stores onto Android devices, giving users more choice of where to get their apps and in-app purchases… and hopefully creating more competition and cheaper prices in the marketplace.

Furthermore, the company is lowering its traditionally high cut of purchases made through the official Play Store from 30% to 20%, and in some cases as low as 15%. In theory, that also brings the opportunity for developers to pass savings onto consumers, rather than dropping the cash directly into Google’s back pocket.

The decisions announced today come at the climax of the long-running legal dispute between Google and Epic games that began when the latter went rogue and set up its own in-app purchase portal within Fortnite on iOS and Android – contravening both stores policies.

In Google’s case, it is announcing new policies before a judge’s settlement verdict is in. Play Store fees are coming down, and ‘registered’ third-party app stores will be available for users to easily side-load on to their Android devices.

On that front, Google says: “Our new Registered App Stores program will provide a more streamlined installation flow for Android app stores that meet certain quality and safety benchmarks. This gives app stores more ways to reach users and gives users more ways to easily and safely access the apps and games they love.”

Users outside the US will see this change first, with home soil to follow after court approval. In terms of the lowering of fees, Google is hoping that developers will stick with the Play Store and is incentivising it somewhat.

“For new installs (first time installs from users after the new fees are launched in a region), we are reducing the in-app purchase (IAP) service fee to 20%. Participating IAP developers will have a 20% service fee for transactions from existing installs and a 15% fee on transactions from new app installs.”

Google is also charging a 5% service fee on these purchases for the use of Google’s billing system. That applies to the UK, EEA and USA. There’ll be a market specific rate elsewhere. I suppose 20%+5% and 15%+5% is still lower than 30%.

Devs who don’t want to pay are now welcome to use their own billing systems within their own apps. They can also link out to a website to complete the transaction. That’s pretty much what Epic was after in the first place and its own Epic Games Store is sure to reap the rewards.

Epic is happy with the outcome. CEO Tim Sweeney says: “Google is opening up Android all the way with robust support for competing stores, competing payments, and a better deal for all developers. So, we’ve settled all of our disputes worldwide. THANKS GOOGLE!

“Fortnite will return to Google Play Store worldwide soon. Epic Games Store continues supporting Android worldwide alongside Windows and Mac, and installation on Android will become much easier later in 2026.”

Billing changes begin this summer. The Registered App Stores program is coming by the end of the year.