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Android 12 will make it easier to use third-party app stores, Google announced through a blog post. The new change has been implemented in conjunction with a “clarity” that is posted specifically for Google Play’s payment policy. Google has apparently brought in the new developments in response to its ongoing fight with game publisher Epic Games over the cut that is needed for purchases made through Google Play. On August 14, the North Carolina-based company, which is the maker of Fortnite, sued Apple and Google for removing the game from their app stores.
Unlike Apple, which has so far made it clear that there is only one app store for downloading iOS apps, Google has allowed third-party app stores alongside Google Play for Android users. This will be further expanded with the release of Android 12 next year.
Google noted in its blog post that based on feedback from developers, the new version of Android will include certain changes that will “make it easier for people to use other app stores on their devices without compromising security measures. Android has in place “. The company also tried to highlight that it does not follow the model that Apple considers for its app store and “has always allowed people to get apps from multiple stores.”
“This openness means that even if a developer and Google cannot agree on commercial terms, the developer can still distribute on the Android platform. That is why Fortnite, for example, is available directly from the Epic store or other app stores, including Samsung’s Galaxy app store, ”the company said.
However, for app developers who want to continue using Google Play, Google has updated its payment policy. The new update does not bring any relaxation to existing in-app payments that involve the cut Google takes from each app that offers in-app purchases through Google Play.
To particularly respond to the allegation of anti-competitive behavior made by Epic Games, Google said that its policies apply equally to all applications distributed on Google Play, including its internal applications. “We use the same standards to decide which applications to promote on Google Play, whether they are third-party applications or our own applications,” the company said.
Google also stated that it supports developers who bring new innovations to their applications and that they consider feedback from their developer community. This is of course important to maintain the faith and trust of developers amid legal challenges from companies like Epic Games.
Is Android One holding back Nokia smartphones in India? We talked about this on Orbital, our weekly tech podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.
