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A US judge ordered Google to simplify the process for accessing third-party app stores in the Google Play Store within one week, citing anticompetitive practices in its implementation.
Google will begin distributing rival third-party app stores via Google Play next week after the settlement with Epic Games was withdrawn, triggering the court's full antitrust remedies that aim to break Google's monopoly on Android app distribution.
Google and Epic Games have withdrawn their joint motion to modify the court's injunction, clearing the way for Google to carry third-party Android app stores in Google Play starting July 22, 2026.
Google has announced a timeline for mandatory Android developer verification, starting with supported app stores from major OEMs like Samsung and Xiaomi, and rolling out in phases from July to September 2026 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, with global expansion planned for 2027.