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Google is officially changing its approach to commissions in the Play Store app store and opening the Android platform to alternative stores. From now on, the standard 30% fee for transactions in the Play Store ecosystem will no longer apply.
At the same time, the company is revising the rules for third-party stores and alternative payment systems. Some of these steps were previously proposed as part of the settlement agreement between Google and Epic Games, signed in November 2025. However, the company decided not to wait for the final court decision and has already publicly announced a major overhaul of Android and the Play Store.
The most notable changes concern how Google will receive revenue from developers who publish Android apps. Instead of the traditional 30% commission on in-app purchases in the Play Store, the base rate is now reduced to 20%. In some cases, it may even be 15%. This rate will apply to new app installations from developers who join the new App Experience program or the updated Google Play Games Level Up program. The changes will also affect subscriptions: in this segment, the company’s commission will be reduced to 10%.
If developers use Google‘s own payment system, the terms will also change. In the UK, the US, and the European Economic Area, the company will charge a 5% commission, while in other regions, a separate rate will be applied, depending on the market. At the same time, alternative payment options are becoming much more affordable for those who want to avoid these fees entirely.
The company reports that developers will be able to offer their own payment systems in parallel with the official Google mechanism. In addition, they will be allowed to direct users from the app to external websites to make purchases. Judging by the description of the new rules, this model looks more flexible than the approach Apple agreed to in 2025. In the case of iOS apps in the App Store, developers trying to avoid Apple’s commission can only add links to alternative payment methods on the web in the app. The ability to make payments outside of the store was one of the reasons Epic Games returned Fortnite to the US App Store in May 2025. In December of the same year, the game reappeared on the Play Store in the United States, and Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said that after the announced changes, Fortnite would soon be available on the Google store globally.
At the same time, Epic Games remains focused on popularizing the mobile version of its own Epic Games Store. That’s why Google ‘s announcement also includes details on how third-party stores will be able to integrate into the Android ecosystem. The company is launching a new program called Registered App Stores, where alternative stores will be able to apply for verification. If the service meets the established quality and security requirements, it will receive a simplified installation interface on Android.
Participation in this program is not mandatory. Users will continue to be able to install third-party stores via sideloading even without passing the verification. However, Google ‘s position is clear: the company prefers platforms that have gone through the official registration process.
Stores that receive the “qualified” status will be able to use a simplified installation interface on Android. This should make the installation process much clearer and faster for users.
Given the scale of the reforms, the new rules will not appear simultaneously in all regions of the world. According to Google‘s plan, the updated commission structure will be in place in the European Economic Area, the UK, and the US by June 30. In Australia, the changes will take effect by September 30. In South Korea and Japan, the new rules are expected to be implemented by December 31. Full global rollout is expected by September 30, 2027.
The updated Google Play Games Level Up program and the new App Experience initiative will be launched in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia on September 30. They will appear in other regions later along with the launch of a new commission model. Speaking of the Registered App Stores program, Google plans to introduce it together with one of the future versions of Android before the end of the year. According to the company, the program will first become available in other regions, and after that it will be launched in the United States.
The company has already changed the rules for charging commissions in the past. The most notable step took place in 2021, when the rate for developers was reduced to 15% of the first $1 million in revenue, as well as to 15% for subscriptions. However, the current reform is different in scope and reasons. Significant regulatory pressure caused by Epic Games ‘ lawsuits against Google and Apple was one of the key factors that pushed the company to make these changes. At the same time, a separate business agreement between Google and Epic Games also played an important role. It was the settlement agreement between the companies that formed the basis for the current reforms. As reported by The Verge in January, the parties also agreed on a joint partnership worth $800 million, which provides for cooperation in product development and the use of Epic Games ‘ core technologies in Google products. As a result, developers do get the opportunity to keep most of the revenue. However, for Google, this is also a strategic business decision that probably has its own advantages for the company.
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