Google Loses Appeal in Epic Games App Store Antitrust Battle

Google Loses Appeal in Epic Games App Store Antitrust Battle

Google Loses Epic Games Appeal: What It Means for Android Users and Developers In a major shakeup for the mobile app ecosystem, Google loses Epic Games appeal in a long-running antitrust case that could change how Android users download and pay for apps. The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling requiring Google to overhaul its Play Store policies after a jury found the tech giant had suppressed competition. This decision stems from Epic Games’ lawsuit—originally filed in 2020—which accused Google of monopolistic behavior that unfairly limited rival app stores and alternative payment systems. With this final ruling, developers may soon enjoy more freedom, while Android users can expect broader choices in how and where they get their apps. Image Credits:Sean Gallup / Getty Images Why Google Lost the Epic Games Appeal The heart of this case lies in how Google controls app distribution and payments on Android devices. Epic Games—creator of the hit game Fortnite —argued that Goog…