U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Forcing Google to Open Play Store to Competitors

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a landmark ruling requiring Google to open its Play Store to rival app marketplaces. The decision stems from an ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite.

As a result, Google must now allow users to download competing app stores directly through the Play Store and make its own app catalog accessible to third-party platforms.

The new policy is set to take effect in July 2026, giving developers the freedom to include external links within their Android apps.

Another part of the ruling, taking effect later this month, permits Epic Games to launch its own in-app payment system on Android—effectively bypassing Google’s transaction fees.

According to U.S. District Judge James Donato, whose decision was upheld by the Supreme Court, Google’s control over the Android ecosystem constitutes an illegal monopoly that violates U.S. antitrust laws. The case, originally filed in 2020, has seen Epic Games prevail in every court so far.

In response, Google described the ruling as “unprecedented,” claiming it threatens user safety, privacy, and the company’s competitive position. The tech giant plans to file a full appeal seeking a Supreme Court review.

Epic Games, however, celebrated the outcome:

“Google relies on flawed arguments to justify its control over Android devices. We urged the courts to let Judge Donato’s decision stand so that consumers and developers can benefit from real competition, more choice, and lower prices,” said the company.

This isn’t Google’s only legal battle in the U.S. The company is also facing other major antitrust investigations related to its dominance in online advertising. Not long ago, Google nearly faced an order to sell its Chrome browser.

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