Aptoide is now the first third-party app store available for download directly inside Google Play in the US, following remedies from Epic's 2023 antitrust win against Google. The change eliminates sideloading warnings and gives users easier access to rival storefronts with up to 1.9 million apps and 295,000 games.
The rollout follows a rejected settlement between Google and Epic.
The third-party app stores page in Google Play remains nearly empty.
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A US judge has given Google one week to reduce friction in finding and installing third-party app stores on the Play Store after ruling the current process anticompetitive. The order stems from the company's 2025 settlement with Epic following the 2023 monopoly finding on app distribution.
Google will allow US third-party app stores to access the Play catalog starting July 22 under the new Play Catalog Access Program. The change complies with the Epic Games court order while imposing $5,000 onboarding and annual fees plus US-only distribution rules.
The European Commission has fined Alphabet €890 million for two DMA violations: self-preferencing its own services in Google Search and restricting payment steering options in the Play Store. Google must revise its policies within 60 days or face further penalties.
Paramount settled an antitrust lawsuit with 12 states seeking to block its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing a key hurdle days before a costly ticking fee would have started. The deal includes commitments to 30+ films per year, an additional $1.5 billion in U.S. film production spending over 2025 levels, a News Editorial Independence Board for CNN and CBS, and penalties including Miramax divestiture for shortfalls.
Google and five PC makers have launched the first Googlebook AI laptops ranging from $899 to $1,299 with preorders starting today and retail availability on October 4. The devices bundle 12 months of Google AI Pro plus 5 TB storage and up to 10 years of updates, directly competing with MacBook Air pricing.
