Google has announced major changes to its Android app store billing and fee structure.
The Alphabet Inc unit said it would lower the commission it takes from developers and expand payment options.
Google’s President of Android Ecosystem, Sameer Samat, said the company was announcing substantial updates to its business model with more billing options, a program for registered app stores, lower fees and new programs for developers.
“This is a significant evolution, and we plan to share additional details in the coming months,” Samat wrote in a blog.
Mobile app developers will be able to use their own billing systems alongside Google Play's systems and direct users to their own websites for purchases.
It will also be easier for users to download and install third-party app stores on their Android devices with the changes starting outside the United States first under a staggered schedule.
The move resolves its long-running dispute with Epic Games and paves the way for the return of the free online video game Fortnite to the Play Store.
In a 2020 anti-trust lawsuit, Epic accused Google of illegally monopolising how users access apps and make in-app purchases on Android devices before the two companies reached a settlement in November 2025.
“With these updates, we have also resolved our disputes worldwide with Epic Games,” Google said.
Alphabet Class C shares (NASDAQ: GOOG) closed down 11 cents (0.036%) at US$303.45 on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), capitalising the company at $3.67 trillion (A$5.18 trillion).
