Google is opening the floodgates to third-party app stores on Android next week

Google will begin supporting third-party app stores on Android starting July 22. This decision follows the withdrawal of a joint settlement agreement between Google and Epic Games, as the court was unlikely to approve it. By abandoning the motion to modify the US Court's injunction, Google aims to avoid a prolonged legal battle and reduce ecosystem uncertainty. The company is now bound by a permanent injunction issued in October 2024 requiring alternative store access.