Google is finally opening the Play Store to outside payments
Google is expanding billing options and lowering fees for the Play Store, allowing external payment methods for the first time.
📍 Aftermath
Google opened the Play Store to alternative payments and external billing in the US, UK, and Europe. The company also lowered Play Store fees for game developers as part of an Epic Games settlement.
Epilogue added 35d ago, after coverage quieted.
Quick answers
Where will external billing be available first?
External billing will open in the US, UK, and Europe next week.
Why is Google changing its payment policies?
Ars Technica reports that Google is making good on a settlement with Epic Games.
Who benefits from the lower fees?
Coverage from GamesBeat specifies that game developers will see lower fees.
The brief
Google is opening the Play Store to outside payments and alternative billing choices. These changes will be implemented next week in the US, UK, and Europe. According to coverage, the company is also lowering fees for developers, specifically including those in the gaming sector.
Reports from Ars Technica link these changes to a settlement with Epic Games. Outlets including MacRumors and 9to5Google highlight the worldwide scope of fee reductions and the specific regions where external billing begins. AppleInsider suggests these policy shifts may preview future changes to Apple platforms.
Attention is now on whether these structural changes will result in lower costs for consumers, as questioned by How-To Geek, and the broader rollout of these policies globally.
Synthesized by Newsylist from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 47d ago.
Sources (10)
- Google's Play Store billing shake-up is finally happening next week Android Police · 47d ago
- Google Lowering Play Store Fees and Allowing Alternative Payments Worldwide MacRumors · 47d ago
- Google's new payment policies are a preview of what could come to Apple platforms AppleInsider · 47d ago
- Google opens the Play Store to external billing in the US, UK, and Europe next week 9to5Google · 47d ago
- Google is finally opening the Play Store to outside payments The Verge · 47d ago broke it first
- Google Play offers expanded billing choices and lower fees for game devs GamesBeat · 47d ago
- Android app purchases are changing as Google Play opens up billing options Android Authority · 47d ago
- You'll soon have more ways to pay in Android apps— but will you pay less? How-To Geek · 47d ago
- Google starts lowering Play Store fees, making good on Epic Games settlement Ars Technica · 47d ago
- Google is finally opening the Play Store to outside payments The Verge · 47d ago broke it first
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