Epic Games Secures Major Victory over Google with Support from Keystone

Yesterday, a judge ruled that Google must allow competing app stores to be downloaded on Android devices following last year’s unanimous jury verdict in Epic Games’ suit against the platform behemoth. US District Judge James Donato issued an injunction, effective November 1st, barring Google from incentivizing app developers to exclusively use their app store for a period of three years. Google must also permit developers to use competing payment options. The ruling is a significant victory for Epic Games.

In a post on X, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the decision, saying: “Big news! The Epic Games Store and other app stores are coming to the Google Play Store in 2025 in the USA - without Google's scare screens and Google's 30% app tax - thanks to victory in Epic v Google.” Yesterday’s ruling applies only to the US market. In a follow up post, Sweeney added: “the legal and regulatory battle will continue around the world.”

Keystone is proud to have supported Epic Games on the matter, which won “Litigation of the Year – Non-Cartel Prosecution” at the 2024 Global Competition Review (GCR) Awards earlier this year, in jurisdictions worldwide.

Keystone’s Competition practice team partnered with law firms Cravath Swaine & Moore, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, and Wiggin & Dana on the case, helping secure a unanimous jury victory finding Google liable for monopolizing two Android app markets. Professor James Mickens from Harvard University provided expert testimony on the security of the Android platform and proposed less restrictive alternative app review and distribution models alongside Keystone’s Advanced Technology Solutions (K.ATS) team. Keystone economists also consulted on the case alongside teams from Bates White and The Brattle Group in support of Professor B. Douglas Bernheim from Stanford University and Professor Steven Tadelis from UC Berkeley.

To learn more about Keystone’s Economic and Technology Advisory services, contact info@keystone.ai.