Google Nudges Paydowns Across Play Store After Epic Settlement

Google is implementing Epic settlement changes to the Play Store: Europe, the UK, and the US start with a two‑part fee (5% billing plus a 10% service fee on the first $1M earned per year, rising for larger or existing transactions and capping new installs at 20%); developers can direct users to external payment options via a guided choice screen, avoiding the Play Store billing fee for those purchases. Australia joins September 30; Japan and Korea on December 31; the rest of the world by September 30, 2027. New fee-relief programs (Games Level Up and Apps Experience) will offer lower transaction fees in Europe, the UK, the US, and Australia starting September 30 this year, with expansion later. Google still controls the Android ecosystem, with future steps to certify third‑party app stores.