Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has called Google’s proposal in its antitrust settlement a comprehensive solution. He stated that it genuinely doubles down on Android’s vision of being an open platform. The companies reached a settlement on Tuesday. This agreement sees the search giant agreeing to Android app store reforms that include lowering fees and enabling more competition.
Under the new proposal, which still requires a judge’s approval, Google will allow Android app developers to point users to alternative payment mechanisms. This can be done inside their apps and through external web links. The proposal also caps the fees Google can charge developers. The fee will be either nine percent or twenty percent, depending on the type of transaction.
Sameer Samat, the president of the Android Ecosystem at Google, wrote that the proposed changes focus on expanding developer choice and flexibility. He noted the changes would lower fees and encourage more competition while keeping users safe. If the court approves the deal, it would end the antitrust litigation.
Sweeney praised the proposal as awesome and contrasted it with Apple’s model. He said Apple’s model is focused on blocking all competing stores and leaving payments as the only vector for competition. Apple has argued its policies are about protecting consumers and managing App Store security. The iPhone maker recently reported record revenue for its Services business, which includes the App Store. The segment’s revenue rose fifteen percent to twenty-eight point seven five billion dollars in the last quarter from a year earlier.
Epic Games had sued both Google and Apple. The company accused their respective app store ecosystems of being anti-competitive. Epic alleged the companies have too much control, charge excessive fees, and favor their own in-app payment systems. Apple largely won its case with Epic but had to modify its App Store rules to allow for alternative payment options. Google, however, lost its appeal in July after a jury found the search giant had stifled competition and needed to make changes.
After the win, Sweeney announced that the Epic Games Store for Android would be coming to the Google Play Store.