Google and Epic end battle, third-party Android stores launch next week

Epic Games and Google have suddenly dropped their joint effort to retroactively settle the antitrust lawsuit that is forcing major changes to Android app distribution in the United States. As a result, Google must now allow competing app stores to operate within its own Google Play marketplace. According to Google’s statement to the court, the company is prepared to begin hosting third-party app stores as soon as Wednesday, July 22. This development raises an obvious question: could Microsoft finally launch its long-awaited Xbox game store on Android?

Back in October 2024, Judge James Donato ruled that Google must carry rival Android app stores inside Google Play for a set period of years, and also share its entire app catalog with those competitors. That landmark decision was designed to break Google’s monopoly over Android app distribution. Now that the two companies have abandoned their attempt to negotiate a retroactive settlement, the court-ordered changes are moving forward on schedule.

For Microsoft, which has been teasing an Xbox mobile store for years, this could be the perfect opening. The company has publicly stated its desire to bring Xbox games directly to Android devices, bypassing traditional app store fees. With Google now compelled to host rival stores, the path is clearer than ever for a dedicated Xbox gaming marketplace on Android phones and tablets.

The broader implications for the Android ecosystem are significant. If Google Play must carry competitors, users could soon see multiple app stores vying for their attention, each offering different catalogs, pricing models, and exclusives. For Epic Games, this represents a major victory in its long-running campaign to loosen Google’s grip on mobile software distribution. For consumers, the next few weeks could bring the first real taste of a more open Android marketplace.