A major ruling by the US court has brought significant changes to Google's payment policies on the Google Play Store. As of October 29, 2025, developers are no longer required to use Google Play Billing (GPB) for in-app purchases, and they can now use third-party payment methods or other payment options.
This change is a result of a long-standing lawsuit between Epic Games and Google, which was finally resolved in favor of Epic Games. The court's ruling states that Google cannot prohibit developers from communicating with users about alternative payment methods or from providing links to external websites for purchasing apps or services.
Developers can now provide download links or point to external trading links, giving users more flexibility and choice. This change only applies to the US region and will be in effect until November 1, 2027.
The implications of this ruling are significant, and it remains to be seen how Google will adapt to these changes. However, one thing is clear: the Google Play Store will never be the same again.