Big news for Android fans and developers! Google and Epic Games—the folks behind Fortnite—just announced a landmark settlement in their 2020 antitrust battle. The deal, now in front of US District Judge James Donato in San Francisco, could totally shake up how you download apps and pay for in-game goodies on your phone. 🚀
Here's the scoop: Google will tweak the rules so you can more easily install third-party app stores, as long as they meet new security checks. No more jumping through hoops! Developers will also get to point you to payment options outside Google's in-app checkout, whether it's on a website link or inside the app. 💸
To keep things fair, Google plans to charge either a 9% or 20% fee on transactions made through these alternative payment methods in Play-distributed apps. That's potentially way cheaper than the usual 30% cut, giving devs more breathing room and (hopefully) lower prices for us. 🎮
Sameer Samat, Google's president of Android Ecosystem, says the tweaks strike a balance between safety and flexibility. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney was hyped, calling the proposal "awesome" and a nod to Android's original open-platform vibe. 🌐
For our tech-savvy crowd in South Asia and Southeast Asia—from Bengaluru to Jakarta—this could mean more choice and better deals in your favourite apps and games. Think smaller fees for local indie devs, more app store options in markets like Thailand, and new payment methods that fit how you actually pay online. 💡
Next step? The judge will review the proposal, and if he gives it the green light, we might be looking at one of the biggest app store shake-ups in years. Stay tuned for updates! 🔍
Reference(s):
Google proposes app store reforms in settlement with 'Fortnite' maker
cgtn.com
