Google and Fortnite maker Epic Games have reached a settlement that would end their five-year legal battle and open the Android platform to third-party app stores worldwide.

The two companies filed a joint proposal this week seeking approval for a new agreement that would require Google to further loosen restrictions on app distribution and payment systems.

If approved, the deal would remain in effect until 2032 and apply globally, not just in the US.

Under the proposal, Google will allow developers to distribute rival app stores through Google Play and enable users to install them directly from websites with minimal friction.

Developers will also be free to use alternative in-app and web payment systems.

In a major shift from its traditional 30% commission model, Google will cap fees at 9% or 20%, depending on the type of transaction and the date on which the app was installed, with the new commission limits applying to new app installs that use third-party in-app payment systems.

The lower rates are designed to encourage competition and give developers greater control over pricing and revenue.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney called the agreement a “comprehensive solution” that “doubles down on Android’s original vision as an open platform,” contrasting it with Apple’s more restrictive ecosystem.

Google’s Android president Sameer Samat said the proposal would “expand developer choice and flexibility, lower fees and encourage more competition while keeping users safe.”

The timing of the deal follows several antitrust rulings, including Australia’s Federal Court decision in August that found Apple and Google guilty of market abuse for restricting app store competition – a case also brought by Epic Games.

That judgment paved the way for compensation claims affecting millions of Australian consumers and developers.

If approved at a court hearing scheduled for Friday AEDT, the new deal could accelerate the rise of alternative app stores and reshape how users access apps on Android devices.