Google lets US Android devs bypass Play billing after injunction

Google has begun allowing Android app developers in the United States to use alternative payment systems and to link users to external pricing or downloads after a court injunction in the Epic Games case took effect on October 29, 2025. The change applies to apps distributed through the Google Play Store in the U.S. and will remain in force until the court order expires on November 1, 2027, the company said.

Under the new rules, developers are no longer required to use Google Play Billing for in‑app transactions. They may implement their own payment processors or third party systems, and may communicate with users about prices or payment options available outside the Play Store, including by providing links to external checkout pages or direct download links. In its support documentation, Google wrote, "Google will not prohibit a developer from communicating with users about the availability or pricing of an app outside the Google Play Store," and outlined corresponding changes to its enforcement of Play Store billing requirements.

The move follows years of litigation brought by Epic Games, which challenged the payment and distribution rules of major app platforms. Epic sought...